Julien St-Jean

Bristol August 5, 2021

Nearly a dozen firefighters from the Bristol and Shawville-Clarendon Fire Departments were sent to the scene of car fire on Hwy 148 near Bristol Mines road last Thursday.

The car had crashed into a ditch off the highway before catching flame. Bristol Fire Chief Kevin Kluke said the flame was put out quickly and that there were no injuries from the crash.

“Right at the start the vehicle was in smoke,” said Kyle Lepine, who called 911 after seeing the accident. “The fire started shortly after. About 10 minutes later, it was in flames.”

Shortly before the crash, Lepine said he had been driving from Quyon when he saw the car following him.

“I saw in the rearview mirror that she was all over the line,” said Lepine. “All of a sudden she came up and passed me at excessive speeds.” Lepine explained that he soon saw her drive into the ditch and that she admitted to him that she had been drinking.

Sergeant Hughes Beaulieu of the SQ said the driver had not been injured, but left the scene with police after being arrested for impaired driving.