A tragic helicopter crash on Montreal's South Shore resulted in the deaths of four individuals, as reported by family members and friends who shared tributes on social media on Sunday, the day after the incident. The crash occurred on Saturday at approximately 2:30 p.m. in Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville municipality, located in the Montérégie region, around 50 kilometers southeast of Montreal.
The three passengers aboard the helicopter were identified by Océane Perreault as her husband, Gabriel Jasmin, her mother, Chantal Raymond, and her brother, Loucas Perreault. They were taking the helicopter ride to celebrate Chantal Raymond's birthday when the tragic accident happened, resulting in the helicopter crashing and subsequently catching fire.
In a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, Océane Perreault expressed her profound grief, stating, “On Sept. 26, a part of my world flew away to heaven. I don’t have the words to describe the pain, the shock, and the emptiness I feel. Three people I love more than anything were taken from me far too soon, right before my eyes.” Gabriel Jasmin was known as a host at the Sherbrooke-based radio station 106.1 Énergie and shared a daughter with Perreault.
The fourth victim of the crash was identified as Suzanne Jutras, the pilot of the helicopter, who was 50 years old. Her husband, Yves Boulais, a field crop farmer and former dairy farmer, was also mentioned in a tribute posted on Facebook by Syndicat UPA Haut-Richelieu, a regional farmers’ union. The organizations stated, “During this difficult time, the board of directors of the Haut-Richelieu UPA, along with the entire farming community, would like to offer their most sincere condolences to Yves, their family, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
In the aftermath of the crash, an investigation has been initiated by the Sûreté du Québec's Major Crimes Unit, and investigators from the Transportation Safety Board were also present at the scene on Saturday to collect evidence and further understand the circumstances surrounding the crash.
