Montreal mom dead, boy critical

MONTREAL — An accident that claimed the life of a Montreal woman and left her young son in critical condition is highlighting the issue of aging seniors behind the wheel.

Montreal police said Sunday’s incident, which involved a 90-yearold driver, occurred in a shopping centre in Montreal’s Saint-Laurent borough.

A mother, 44 was walking in a parking lot with her five-year-old son when they were struck by a car.

Police spokeswoman Caroline Chevrefils said the driver has already been questioned about the tragic accident.

“He was met by investigators on the scene of the accident and he was a little bit confused and a little bit in a state of shock,” she said Monday.

The woman was rushed to hospital where she died of her injuries.

The young boy’s father was at his side at the hospital on Monday.

A person who is close to the family said the family was seeking privacy.

He described the father as a popular Montreal-born Lebanese singer who is “well-loved,” adding that he also has a daughter.

“It’s been a difficult time and he doesn’t want to release any information,” said the man, who also did want to be identified.

He runs a towing company and said one of his drivers was the first to arrive on the scene, helping authorities lift the vehicle to get access to the victims who were pinned underneath.

Statistics complied by Quebec’s automobile insurance bureau (SAAQ) suggest an overall increase in the number of older drivers over a five-year period thanks to an aging population.