Wrong-Way Driver Collides Head-On with STM Bus on Ville-Marie Expressway
A serious traffic collision involving a passenger vehicle and a public transit bus occurred on the Ville-Marie Expressway in the early hours of Sunday morning, resulting in significant injuries to the car driver and minor injuries to the bus operator.
Details of the Early Morning Collision
According to the Sûreté du Québec, emergency services were dispatched to Highway 136 near Westmount at approximately 2:30 a.m. following reports of a major accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a passenger vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction on the expressway before making direct contact with a Société de transport de Montréal bus in a head-on collision.
The male driver, described as being in his 50s, sustained serious injuries in the impact and was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment. Authorities confirmed that the man was initially in critical condition but stabilized throughout the day.
Bus Driver and Passenger Safety
The STM bus driver also required medical attention following the collision, though their injuries were classified as minor. Fortunately, there were no passengers aboard the public transit vehicle at the time of the incident, preventing what could have been a more catastrophic outcome with potential multiple casualties.
An SQ spokesperson provided an update on Sunday afternoon, indicating that the injured driver's condition had improved to stable and that his life was no longer considered to be in immediate danger.
Investigation and Traffic Disruption
SQ investigators remained at the scene for several hours following the collision to thoroughly analyze the circumstances and determine the exact cause of the wrong-way driving incident. The comprehensive investigation included:
- Examination of vehicle damage patterns
- Assessment of road conditions at the time
- Review of potential contributing factors
- Collection of witness statements and evidence
The Ville-Marie Expressway experienced significant closure as a result of the collision and subsequent investigation, with all lanes remaining shut down until approximately 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The extended closure allowed emergency responders and investigators to safely conduct their work while ensuring thorough documentation of the scene.
This incident marks another serious traffic event on Montreal's busy expressway system and raises questions about wrong-way driving prevention measures on major urban highways.
