Frederic Serre
The Advocate

A tragic accident at a family farm in the Montérégie village of Ste. Christine earlier this month resulted in the deaths of a man in his 40s and his wife, also in her 40s. The Sûreté du Québec and Quebec’s Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) are investigating the Oct. 4 incident at the farm on Highway 116, near Acton Vale.

According to Camille Savoie of the SQ, officers and local firefighters were called to the Robidoux Jutras veal and grain farm at about 6:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a severely injured man found unconscious in a manure pit. Savoie said the victim’s spouse attempted to rescue him, but she, too, was also seriously injured. The couple was pulled out of the pit by firefighters.

Éric Jutras was pronounced dead at the scene while his wife, Caroline Robidoux, was rushed to hospital. She died nine days later, on Oct. 13.

Investigators believe the accident happened as Jutras was working near the pit. He fell into the pit after possibly suffering a medical emergency due to the toxic gas emanated from it. The SQ said Jutras called out to his wife, who rushed to his aid, but she also succumbed to the fumes and fell into the pit.

A Gofundme campaign has been launched by the family of the couple, with already more than $19,500 raised to support their three children.

The tragedy this month is the second of its type to occur in the area. In 2016, a pig farmer and his 18-year-old employee died while trying to do some work in a manure pit at a farm in St. Valérien de Milton, located about 30 kilometres from Ste. Christine. Investigators reported that the farmer, who was in his 50s, lost consciousness due to the toxic fumes in the pit, and his employee rushed to his aid but was also overcome by the fumes. Both men died at the scene. It was determined that their deaths were the result of inhaling high levels of hydrogen sulfide.