The deaths of two brothers struck by a light rail train over the weekend have shocked a community southwest of Montreal.
Simon and Samuel Brochu, both from Saint-Rémy, Quebec, died after they were hit by an automated train early Saturday morning near Brossard, Quebec.
Police said the collision happened around 3 a.m. Saturday when three young men tried to cross Highway 10 near the Du Quartier light rail station in Brossard, south of Montreal.
Mayor Sylvie Gagnon-Breton of Saint-Rémy, located about 30 kilometers southwest of Montreal, said the loss of the two young brothers has had a profound impact on the community. She expressed her condolences on behalf of the community and the city during a difficult time.
“The young victims were well-known, especially in the local sports community,” Gagnon-Breton said in an interview, adding that they were hockey players well known at the local skating rink.
“They had a lot of friends around their age who were greatly affected by the news.”
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Simon Brochu, 19, died at the scene and his older brother, Samuel Brochu, 22, died in hospital on Sunday. Quebec's coroner's service confirmed the death, adding that one of its employees has been assigned to investigate.
The third victim, a 19-year-old man, survived the collision.
Representatives of the Réseau express metropolitain railway network expressed their condolences.
REM operator Pulsar said the collision occurred after people stepped onto the tracks, which are fenced off and run along the provincial highway in the area. The operator also warned in a statement that attempting to cross the tracks was dangerous.
“We remind everyone of the importance of respecting safety zones and never stepping onto the tracks for your safety and that crossing REM tracks, like any other railway, is very dangerous,” Pulsar said in a statement.
“That’s why the entire REM right-of-way is fenced off.”
Pulsar also said it was working closely with government authorities to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the collision. The light rail network recently opened 14 new stations serving between downtown Montreal and Deux-Montagnes.
The train was not carrying passengers during the hour the incident occurred, but trains continued to operate for testing, maintenance or other maintenance work outside of normal operating hours, Pulsar said.
On social media, friends and relatives of the victims paid tribute by changing their profile photos. Some used an image of a candle with the inscription “In memory of the Brochu brothers,” others used a photograph of a hockey jersey with their last name.
The community also wants to respect the family's privacy in the face of tragedy, the mayor added. Local health officials are providing support to youth, families and parents.
“For families, the loss of a child is a real tragedy,” Gagnon-Breton said. “For those who have already experienced it, it will also bring back memories.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press
