A Quebec coroner has once again called on the provincial Transport Ministry to enhance safety measures on Highway 50 following a head-on collision that occurred late last year.
In a recently published report by Coroner Martine Lachance, it was determined that the death of a 71-year-old man from Boisbriand was accidental, with the blame placed on the absence of a physical barrier separating opposing lanes on the highway.
The collision took place in the late afternoon of December 26, 2025, near Brownsburg-Chatham in the western Laurentians. The victim was a passenger in a vehicle traveling west on Highway 50, also known as Autoroute Guy-Lafleur.
According to the coroner’s findings, the driver was traveling at 111 km/h in a 100 km/h zone when she was momentarily blinded by the headlights of an approaching truck. This caused her to lose control of the vehicle, leading to a collision with a van on the eastbound lane after crossing over the centre line.
The report highlighted that neither weather conditions nor road conditions played a role in the accident, as the pavement was dry, visibility was good, and police inspections revealed no mechanical issues with the vehicle.
The absence of a central median or guardrail was identified as a critical factor that could have prevented the vehicle from veering into oncoming traffic, as emphasized by the coroner.
In an effort to address safety concerns on the highway, Lachance recommended the urgent installation of median guardrails to separate eastbound and westbound traffic on Highway 50. Additionally, she urged the prompt implementation of planned widening projects to expand the road to four lanes, emphasizing the importance of these measures in preventing future serious injuries and fatalities.
Earlier this year, two coroners had also highlighted the dangers of Highway 50 in reports that linked nine other fatalities to collisions on the same roadway layout, reinforcing the need for immediate safety enhancements.
Upgrades have been carried out in certain sections of the highway, but the coroner’s latest report underscores the critical need for swift action to improve safety conditions and prevent further tragic incidents on Highway 50.