2-year-old child killed in excavator collision on private land

A Surete du Quebec (SQ) squad car. (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News)

A two-year-old child lost his life on Saturday evening in a collision on private land in the municipality of Irlande, near Thetford Mines, in the Chaudière-Appalaches region.

At around 8:15 p.m., emergency services responded to a call reporting a collision involving an excavator and a child on private land alongside Route 165, according to information from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).

“On arrival at the scene, police officers were unfortunately only able to confirm the child’s death,” said Sergeant Frédéric Deshaies, spokesperson for the SQ.

The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 20s, was interviewed by investigators, as were neighbours and relatives of the victim.

The driver was subsequently released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.

The SQ’s Major Crimes Investigation Division is conducting an investigation, supported by a crime scene reconstruction specialist dispatched to the scene to understand the circumstances leading up to this tragedy.

“Under the Coroners’ Act, the SQ’s Major Crimes Investigation Division always conducts an investigation when a young child dies,” said another SQ spokesperson, Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, on Sunday morning.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 28, 2026.