Ontario drive-in to hold moment of silence for baby run over in Quebec

Transcript

Paul Peterson says he will remind his customers to "put safety first" after he holds a moment of silence at his drive-in movie theatre on Thursday night. 

A four-month-old baby girl died Wednesday after being run over by a vehicle at drive-in on Montreal's South Shore. A witness told CBC News in Montreal that a vehicle backed over a small tent with an infant inside while people were leaving the Ciné-Parc Boucherville.

Quebec's coroner is investigating, but police said they believe it was an accident and do not expect charges to be laid.

It's a tragedy that cuts close to home for Peterson, who runs Mustang Drive-in near Bloomfield, Ont. Here is part of his conversation with As It Happens guest host Rosemary Barton. 

Mr. Peterson, obviously this is a really tragic story. When you heard about this baby that had been killed at a drive-in [Wednesday] night, what did you think? 

I was just horrified. My heart goes out to the parents and to the people who own the drive-in. 

You just don't want anything close to this to happen. It's terrible. It really is. 

You've been running your drive-in, the Mustang Drive-In, for about 30 years. Have you ever had any incident like this — any close calls, even? 

No. I've seen circumstances where there were problems, where, you know, I saw kids lying in sleeping bags in a spot. Their parents' car was in one spot and they lay down next to it and we would move a picnic table behind them so no one could turn in to that spot. 

It's just a bunch of cars in a field really, right? They all sort of have to have a spot, and they all have to leave at some point. What are the safety concerns you have?

I do a nightly announcement and, you know, mention things like how to turn your parking light off and things like that, and remind people that there are a lot of little people running around and having fun and that it's important to drive safely.

We don't allow anyone to drive quickly and I have staff that are present in the field as the movie is starting. 

Just think before you move. Really, that's what it comes down to. Safety first. Remember that there are little kids around. 

We allow people to put their tents next to the car. You know, it may not be as profitable to have someone taking up two spots, but we have a big place so we can fit them in. That way they don't have to necessarily put the tent in front of their car.

Is that pretty common that people bring small tents, or baby tents, or things like that? 

I haven't seen a baby tent. I've seen lots of screen tents, and mosquito tents, tents that are built into the back of trucks. It's really quite remarkable and creative what people do to make the drive-in their own.

Would you consider after this saying to people, maybe don't bring tents?  

As terrible as it is, I try not to have that knee-jerk reaction.

People … they love it and it's part of their tradition, part of the ritual of going to the drive-in. I'm going to remind people nightly … that they need to be careful and that they probably need to put barricades around the tent. 

And to my other customers who are leaving: Drive slowly, drive safely, and remember the little people that are around. 

My reaction is not to ban it. It's a terrible thing but, luckily, you know, every night across Ontario and across Canada there are thousands of people going to the drive-in and having a nice, safe, fun time.

What do you think the mood will be like tonight?

Years ago, when we were transitioning to radio sound, it had not gone smoothly. One night, I got on the microphone and said, "You're going to honk anyway, so why don't you just do it now and get it out of your system."  

People really liked that, and so every night I sort of exhort them to do that. 

Tonight, we won't do that. We will not honk the horns, and [will] have a moment of silence and just remember and think about the safety and how you can make the drive-in a safe place. That's what I want to do.

Written by Sheena Goodyear and Katie Geleff with files from CBC News. Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.