Les Escoumins crash underscores deadly start to construction holiday
LES ESCOUMINS, Que. — Two people in their 20s died and a third person remains in critical condition after a westbound vehicle lost control during an overtaking attempt on Route 138 and struck a line of eastbound traffic Saturday evening on Quebec’s North Shore, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) said.
The collision occurred at around 6 p.m. in Les Escoumins, a municipality along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. In all, four vehicles and nine occupants were involved, according to provincial police. Investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events on a busy inter-regional corridor at the outset of Quebec’s annual construction holiday.
Elizabeth Marquis-Guy, an SQ spokesperson, said the three people in the westbound vehicle were taken to hospital in critical condition. Later, two of them were pronounced dead.
“The deaths of two of the three occupants who were in the vehicle that had attempted to pass another vehicle were confirmed at the hospital,”
Marquis-Guy told CBC on Sunday morning, adding that the third occupant of that same vehicle remains in critical condition. Authorities did not immediately release the victims’ names. The SQ said its collision reconstruction specialists are examining the scene and vehicle debris patterns to determine contributing factors.
Second deadly head-on in as many days
The Route 138 crash followed a separate fatal head-on collision in the Laurentians on Friday that left three people dead, including a child under 10, after a northbound vehicle attempted to pass a car making a right turn. In that case, police said the northbound driver did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Together, the two incidents highlight the heightened risk period that typically accompanies the start of Quebec’s summer construction break, when leisure travel and cottage traffic surge on highways and regional roads.
The SQ has already increased its highway presence for the two-week holiday period, which runs until Aug. 2. Enforcement typically targets speeding, impaired driving and dangerous passing, with police deploying both marked and unmarked patrols as well as checkpoints in high-traffic corridors. Saturday’s crash in Les Escoumins occurred along a coastal highway that serves as the main artery linking towns on the province’s North Shore.
What we know about the Les Escoumins collision
- Location: Route 138, Les Escoumins (Côte-Nord/North Shore)
- Time: Approximately 6 p.m., Saturday
- Vehicles involved: Four
- Total occupants: Nine
- Casualties: Two deceased (both in their 20s); one person in critical condition
- Status: SQ collision investigators at work; circumstances under investigation
Police said a westbound vehicle veered out of its lane while attempting to pass and collided with three vehicles heading east. The crash shut down traffic in both directions for several hours as first responders extricated occupants, treated the injured and secured the scene for investigators.
Route 138 and seasonal pressures
Route 138 is a lifeline for the Côte-Nord, funnelling local, commercial and vacation traffic through communities such as Tadoussac, Les Bergeronnes and Les Escoumins. Seasonal tourism adds pressure to two-lane stretches where passing opportunities can be limited by curves, elevation changes and traffic density. While police have not attributed a cause in the latest crash, driver decision-making during overtaking manoeuvres is a recurrent focus of road safety campaigns, particularly in regions where distances between services are long and passing lanes are intermittent.
This weekend’s deadly collisions come as provincial police renew calls for patience and vigilance. The construction holiday typically sees higher traffic volumes, varied driver familiarity with regional roads and more frequent long-distance trips. Safety advisories often emphasize maintaining safe following distances, respecting posted speeds, planning extra time and avoiding risky passes on two-lane segments — especially when visibility is reduced or when approaching intersections and driveways where vehicles may slow to turn.
Ongoing investigation and public information
The SQ has not released further details on the conditions of other occupants in the three eastbound vehicles or whether charges may follow. Collision reconstructions can take weeks as teams assess skid marks, vehicle damage, roadway conditions and witness statements. Police generally publish updates as next of kin are notified and as the factual record is established.
Motorists planning to travel along the North Shore in the coming days should anticipate a continued police presence and potential delays. Authorities typically respond to major crashes by increasing spot enforcement and visibility in adjacent stretches.
At a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Highway | Route 138 |
| Municipality | Les Escoumins (Côte-Nord) |
| Date | Saturday, July 18 |
| Time | ~ 6 p.m. |
| Vehicles | 4 |
| Occupants | 9 |
| Fatalities | 2 (both in their 20s) |
| Critical injuries | 1 |
| Investigation | Ongoing (SQ) |
The SQ encourages anyone who witnessed the crash or with dashcam footage from the area around the time of the collision to contact police to aid the investigation.
Quebec’s construction holiday continues through early August, with police urging drivers across the province — from the Laurentians to the North Shore — to adjust travel plans and driving behaviour to account for heavier traffic and variable road conditions.
