By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban
A Dollard-des-Ormeaux mother and her four young children are still recovering after a hit-and-run crash shattered their lives several weeks ago. The collision happened at the corner of St. Jean Boulevard and Roger Pilon. Manel (she requested her family name not be used) stopped at a red light and headed toward Pierrefonds Boulevard, with her twin toddlers, her seven-month-old baby, and her four-year-old daughter all secured in car seats- three in the back row, and one in the middle row — of the minivan. She was waiting for the light to turn green when, without warning, a black car barrelled into the rear of her vehicle at high speed.
The force of the impact crushed the back of the van, jamming the sliding side doors and trapping the children inside. Without hesitation, Manel unbuckled herself and dove into the back, climbing over seats to reach her kids. As she scrambled to help them, she looked up through the shattered rear window and saw the two men in the other vehicle-both described as Black with braided hair staring back at her. In those split seconds, she watched them reverse and pull away, catching another glimpse through the side window as they drove off. Leaning to the front of the car, she managed to catch a fleeting look at the licence plate through the windshield — just enough to recall a “4” and a “Y”—before the car vanished, leaving the family in the chaos of the wreck.
When the men sped away, Manel was left in a scene of shock and distress. The inside of the minivan was littered with broken glass and the cries of her children, still strapped in their seats, confused and terrified. She worked frantically, picking shards of glass off their clothes and skin, while checking them for injuries as she tried to calm them down. The back doors were jammed shut by the impact. Waiting for help to arrive, Manel remained in the back with her children, tending to them and doing her best to reassure them in the midst of the chaos.
“Everything happened in seconds,” Manel told The Suburban. “One moment I was waiting at the light, the next I was climbing into the back to get my babies out, and the men who hit us were just driving away.”
Firefighters arrived quickly and worked to unjam the rear doors, while helping Manel free her children from their seats. Paramedics checked the family at the scene. Miraculously, none of the children suffered life-threatening injuries, but all were badly shaken. While their physical wounds were minor, the emotional scars are proving much harder to mend. The children remain afraid of cars and are now traumatized by the thought of getting back into a vehicle, a routine they must face each day.
Manel, who was most injured during the crash, still suffers from severe back pain and is undergoing physiotherapy and taking medication as part of her recovery.
The minivan, deemed a total loss, was towed to a Dorval storage lot. When it came time to retrieve the vehicle, the family was handed a bill for $835. Of that amount, $230 in charges were attributed to the SPVM for administrative fees, towing, and storage, while the remaining costs were charged by the private company for a second towing service and additional storage days. All charges on the same bill. Despite the circumstances, the family’s insurance provider has refused to cover the damages, leaving them to shoulder the costs themselves.
Marwan, Manel’s husband, is a local Adapted Transport driver for people with disabilities and the family’s sole provider. In addition to his regular work hours, he drives for Uber to earn a second income until Manel is able to return to work. “My wife did everything right. She was just waiting at a red light,” Marwan told The Suburban. “Suddenly our lives were turned upside down—and now, on top of everything, we’re left paying the bills after someone else’s reckless actions.”
Montreal police are still investigating and are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or recognizes the vehicle to come forward. The family hopes that by sharing their story, someone may remember a crucial detail.
“Our main concern is our kids,” Marwan said. “But we want those responsible to be found. No family should have to go through this.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact their local police station. n