Two pedestrians dead and nine injured in Canada truck collision

Two men have died and nine other pedestrians were injured in Canada, after they were hit by a truck on Monday, police said.

Quebec police spokesperson Helene St Pierre said a 38-year-old man had been arrested and investigators were looking into whether the incident in the town of Amqui, north of Quebec City, was deliberate.

“Everything indicates that this is an isolated event,” she said. “There is no more danger in the area and only one suspect.”

Provincial police told the Guardian that the man is being held at a local police station and is speaking to officers. The cause of the crash or any motive has not yet been determined.

The two deceased are in their 60s and 70s, respectively. Three children are also among the injured, police said.

The incident occurred shortly after 3pm in Amqui’s downtown. Two of the injured are in serious condition. A spokesperson for the regional health board told The Canadian Press that a code orange had been issued at the Amqui hospital, indicating a scenario with multiple casualties. According to reports from journalists in Quebec, planes to transport victims to hospital in Quebec City had arrived around 9pm.

Witnesses told local media a truck hit several people on a sidewalk, then continued for another 400 to 500 metres along the road, striking more people.

Another witness told radio programme, Ici Radio-Canada Télék, that the scene of the incident was one of “desolation”.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that his heart was with the people of Amqui. “As we learn more about the tragic events that have taken place, I’m keeping everyone affected in my thoughts,” he said.

Canadian Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino tweeted that he was “shocked and saddened” by the events and called the incident a “horrific act of violence”.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report