FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A five-car pile-up Monday morning in the eastbound lanes of the Galipeault Bridge that links Île Perrot and Ste. Anne de Bellevue on Monday morning created a massive traffic jam that lasted hours, adding to the headaches and frustration felt by commuters, many of them using the span along Highway 20 in an effort to avoid the chronic rush-hour traffic tie-ups leading up to the Île aux Tourtes Bridge on Highway 40.

The crash, which happened at about 8 a.m., forced the closure of two of the three lanes on the Galipeault. No injuries were reported.

According to the Sûreté du Québec, speed and impatience are likely the cause.

“I saw it happen behind me,” said Phillipp Salazar. “The red light on the bottom of the exit lane caused a full stop (on the span), and the car behind me could only partially merge on the exit lane, so this caused a full stop in the middle lane. I heard one quick car horn, and then crash, crash, crash!”

Another motorist, Dina Guadagno of Vaudreuil-Dorion, said she witnessed the whole incident, adding that speed played a big role.

“It was horrible to see,” Guadagno said. “One vehicle was blocking the centre lane to cut into the right lane for the Ste. Anne de Bellevue exit, which created a useless blockage in the centre lane. Another vehicle tried to change lanes to go into the left lane and was solidly hit by another car that was arriving very fast. People are speeding on the bridge!”