FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

While a Sûreté du Québec investigation continues into a head-on collision last month on Highway 20 in Coteau du Lac that killed a 25-year-old St. Polycarpe man, police now say the two occupants of one of the vehicles are expected to make a full recovery despite an earlier report by the SQ that their lives were in danger.

“The two victims are still hospitalized for major injuries, but we no longer fear for their lives,” said SQ spokesperson Elizabeth Marquis.

For an unknown reason, at about 12:45 p.m., on July 21, the St. Polycarpe man’s car veered off the eastbound lane of the highway in Coteau du Lac, crossed the median and slammed into a westbound car driven by a retired SQ officer and a female passenger. The impact was brutal, trapping all three victims in the wreckage. While the St. Polycarpe man was declared dead at the scene, firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate the two other victims, who were rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police now say they are expected to make a full recovery.

The SQ said the investigation is looking into all aspects of the crash to see if driver distraction, a medical issue or a mechanical problem played a role.