A widower is not angry as the motorist who killed his wife in a violent collision last year is free and will not be charged, despite poorly controlling his diabetes before the death.
• Also read – Accident on the A-25: A 55-year-old Lavallois dies instantly
“He didn’t mean to kill her, but he killed her! says Alain Hogue. At least take away his driver’s license! […] I don’t want him to kill anyone else!”
“That’s negligent,” raged the 61-year-old computer scientist, who “lives very badly with it”.
Photo Heloise Archambault
Alain Hogue, 61, does not accept that the diabetic who killed his wife Mylène Bergeron last year has not been charged with negligence and only lost his driver’s license within four months.
On February 15, 2022, the life of this Laval resident tragically changed. His wife of the last 30 years, Mylène Bergeron, was fatally hit on Highway 25 in Montreal by a motorist crossing a median at 32 mph. He never braked.
Shortly before the accident, surveillance cameras captured the vehicle, which was traveling “irregularly,” according to the recently released coroner’s report. At one point he rubbed at the cement parapets separating the lanes.
Photo QMI AGENCY, MAXIME DELAND
“My life sucks”
One teacher, the 55-year-old mother of two who commuted to work, didn’t stand a chance. Travel plans, retreat: All of the couple’s dreams have gone up in smoke.
“It’s ruined my life,” says Mr. Hogue. Someone stole my wife from me.
The coroner points out that the driver at fault suffered from hypoglycemia and has no memory of the accident. After the collision in the hospital, the diabetic since 1998 said “that in recent months he has had some difficulties in stabilizing his blood sugar, especially at night,” we read.
However, he did not recall having symptoms of hypoglycemia on the morning of the accident and had given him a dose of long-acting insulin before leaving his home.
People with diabetes should not drive unless they meet the requirements of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
The SAAQ not informed
According to the coroner, the driver at fault had twice urgently consulted the hospital for hypoglycemic episodes (syncope and loss of consciousness) in 2015 and 2017. However, no statement was made to the SAAQ, writes the coroner.
He adds that “this driver should be the subject of an annual assessment application” to the SAAQ. According to him, this would have made it possible to “detect certain risks associated with unreported episodes of hypoglycemia”.
The driver’s license was revoked for four months after the accident. According to coroner Lépine, this period must be “significantly” extended in the event of death or serious accidents.
No other sanctions were imposed. The Sûreté du Québec confirms that the file is closed and has not been transmitted to the Chief of Criminal Investigation and Prosecution.
None of this makes sense to Mr. Hogue.
“Not all diabetics are dangerous, but those who don’t control their blood sugar are dangerous! said the man, who intends to continue the trial to seek justice. There has to be bite, control.”
“My world collapsed. My wife loved traveling so much that we planned a lot.”
Driving with diabetes:
Diabetes is incompatible with driving a road vehicle unless the person:
- Had no episodes of waking hypoglycemia that resulted in impaired consciousness and required third-party intervention for three months;
- Shows a good understanding of his illness;
- Is under medical supervision for his diabetes.
Any motorist who has a medical condition that could affect their ability to drive must notify the SAAQ within 30 days.
The SAAQ can maintain or suspend the concession, each case is assessed individually
*Source: SAAQ
The rules need to be tightened
Driving by people with diseases like diabetes needs to be better regulated to avoid further tragedy, says a coroner, who wants to force doctors to report patients who are unable to drive.
Compliance with the driving conditions for diabetics (and for other diseases) is not subject to any systematic review by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
Important Consequences
This is mainly based on a voluntary declaration upon license renewal. Coroner Éric Lépine, who was investigating after Ms Bergeron’s death, recommends requiring healthcare professionals to report a patient’s incapacity to drive for health reasons to the SAAQ.
“The Consequences of Driving […] from a person with poorly controlled diabetes are far too important to make this reporting optional,” he writes.
“There should be tougher penalties. There are many people who drive on the road who have health problems and who do not explain it, ”replies Me Marc Bellemare, specialist in these files.
Mr. Lépine adds that the SAAQ should re-evaluate the management system of medical follow-up for diabetics. In addition, the Diabetes Quebec Association notes that the rules are not always well followed.
“The patient has a responsibility to find out, but of course a lot of people are afraid of losing their driver’s license, which is a big deal,” says Valérie Savard, a nutritionist at Diabetes Quebec. Perhaps some hesitate to discuss this aspect.”
In 2022, 15,313 diabetics reported a change in their health status to the SAAQ, and 117 drivers had their driver’s licenses revoked.
Clinical Judgment
The Association of Emergency Physicians of Quebec emphasizes that clinical judgment is important and that most patients will heed recommendations not to drive.
“Of all the patients we see, most are sent home and have no problems,” says Dr. Gilbert Boucher, President.
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