10ième Raison Pourquoi la reforme de la SAAQ / 10th reason why to reform the SAAQ

Vendredi 1 juin 2001

Saturday 2 June 2001

News Wire

MASSUEVILLE (PC) — Des dizaines d'enfants et une simple colombe blanche ont accompagné le jeune Kevin Lavallée à son dernier repos, vendredi à Massueville, lui qui a été fauché par un conducteur ivre. Pour en savoir plus...

MARCOS TOWNSEND, GAZETTE
 Young mourners march at yesterday's funeral in Massueville for 6-year-old Kevin Lavallee, who was killed by a truck Monday while riding his bike in the town northeast of Montreal. Click here to read the story.

 Les jeunes compagnons de Kevin Lavallée (6 ans) escortant le cortège funèbre.  Il à été tué par un chauffard lundi passé alors qu'il se promenait en bicycle dans une ville au nord est de Montréal  Cliquer ici pour lire toute la manchette dans le journal la Gazette de Montréal.

Les funérailles de Kevin Lavallée se déroulent dans la tristesse

Par Lia LÉVESQUE

(photo LCN)

MASSUEVILLE (PC) — Des dizaines d'enfants et une simple colombe blanche ont accompagné le jeune Kevin Lavallée à son dernier repos, vendredi à Massueville, lui qui a été fauché par un conducteur ivre.
 
 L'enfant de 6 ans, fils unique de Linda et Yves Lavallée, reposait dans un cercueil blanc et doré, couvert d'un linge blanc pour sa pureté et de fleurs bleues et blanches.
 
 Six adolescents lui ont servi de porteurs. Des jeunes, il y en avait plein l'église, dont une équipe complète de soccer, en uniforme. Plusieurs enfants, très jeunes, ne réalisaient pas vraiment la signification de cette cérémonie et des adultes qui pleuraient tout autour d'eux.
 
 À la fin de la cérémonie, dehors, le parrain de Kevin et maire du village de Saint-Louis Gaétan Lavallée a laissé échapper une colombe blanche, symbole de paix et de pureté. "Entre dans un monde sans violence. Ton départ va sûrement servir de leçon et empêcher que d'autres enfants comme toi subisse le même sort", a-t-il lancé.
 
 Toute l'école Christ-Roi assistait aux funérailles de Kevin. Son groupe de maternelle a confectionné une carte de souhaits, qu'une enseignante a épinglée sur un lutrin. Un groupe d'enfants de 1e, 2e et 3e années a fait de même, ainsi qu'un groupe de 4e, 5e et 6e années: une marguerite en dentelle avec la photo de Kevin au centre, puis une autre carte en forme de coeur rouge.
 
 L'officiant Benoît Côté a abordé de front la question de l'alcool au volant, qui a coûté la vie à Kevin. "Kevin est une victime innocente comme le Christ. Le voilà tout seul, petit enfant, à porter le péché d'une multitude. L'alcool au volant n'est pas le péché juste d'un seul, mais de plusieurs. Un mal social, un péché collectif, un péché d'un grand nombre."
 
 Il a dépeint avec justesse la douleur des parents, évoquant "la mort qui vient nous arracher une partie de nous-même", lors de la mort d'un enfant.
 
 Il a ensuite invité toute la foule à "dire adieu à quelqu'un qui a été notre fils unique, quelqu'un qui a été notre compagnon de jeu, notre voisin de village", avant de "le confier à quelqu'un capable d'en prendre soin et de le ressusciter".
 
 Dehors, l'oncle de Kevin, M. Michel Germain, souhaitait "que tout le monde s'implique pour empêcher les gens qui ont bu de conduire en état d'ébriété" et de faucher ainsi des vies. "Les gens ont besoin de connaître ce que l'on vit pour ne plus que ça arrive" à d'autres. On ne pourra jamais empêcher toutes les personnes de boire de l'alcool et de conduire, "mais si on peut sauver quelques vies, juste par de la sensibilisation", ce sera déjà beaucoup, a-t-il commenté.
 
 Le président du Conseil du trésor et député péquiste de la région, soit de la circonscription de Richelieu, M. Sylvain Simard, a discrètement assisté à la cérémonie.

Saturday 2 June 2001

'Go to a place of joy'

Hundreds turn out for funeral of 6-year-old killed riding his bike
PAUL CHERRY
The Gazette

Kevin Lavallee never got the chance to get his soccer jersey dirty.

It sat on the altar of Saint-Aime Church among the floral arrangements during his funeral yesterday. Its collar was too white, the jersey looked too new.

The 6-year-old boy never got the chance to score a goal or to feel how neat it is to purposely plant his cleats in a pile of mud. He was scheduled to play his first real game on Tuesday, the day after he died.

It was a detail not lost on Kevin's family members as they grieved over a life ended far too early.

While Kevin and a friend were riding their bicycles Monday evening they were struck by a truck driven by a man who has been charged with impaired driving and causing the boy's death.

Andre Sweeney, 52, of Yamaska-Ouest is in custody after being arraigned Tuesday on three criminal charges.

Kevin's 10-year-old friend Olivier Joyal suffered minor injuries in the accident.

Hundreds of people gathered yesterday in the church in Massueville, a rural town 90 kilometres northeast of Montreal, to say goodbye.

Among those in attendance were members of Kevin's soccer team, dressed in their uniforms, a purple jersey and black soccer shorts. As the small white coffin was brought into the church the children formed a sort of honour guard watching in silence as their friend passed by for the last time.

Kevin's parents Yves and Linda followed the coffin into the church. The boy's mother could be heard gasping for air as she cried uncontrollably.

The tragedy has struck the farming community of about 600 residents hard as friends and relatives wondered about what could have been for the boy everyone described as special.

During the funeral, Kevin's aunt Diane Morin told of Kevin's taking his first steps at 9 months old.

"They were big steps and you had a big smile on your face," Morin said.

At that time, Kevin's father, Yves Lavallee, remarked with pride that there would be many happy memories to come.

"When you were 4 you already started to work on the farm," Morin continued. "You made friends with the cows and once yelled at them to wake up and make some milk.

"A boy like you, we will never forget."

Before the funeral started, Andre Raiche, a relative of Kevin's, stood outside the church and marveled over how many people were filing in.

"It's like the whole town is here. It's very impressive," said Raiche, who described Kevin as "a very dynamic boy."

"When he would visit his uncles he would ask them what jobs he could do on their farms. His uncles were always surprised when he did that."

Parish priest Benoit Cote noted many of the boy's schoolmates from Christ Roi School were at the funeral.

"We have not simply lost a child," Cote told the children. "We have gained the privilege of having known him."

While mourners remembered Kevin fondly it was evident that the way in which he died still angers many.

Denis Piche, who knew Kevin because his young nephew was a friend of his, wore his grief on his face as he approached the church.

"This is still very hard for all of us," Piche said.

"I hope that Mr. Sweeney is found guilty and sentenced to everything he deserves."

After the funeral ended, family members gathered outside the church and released a caged dove as a friend of the family read a brief statement.

"Kevin, go and be in a better place, a place without violence," Andre Boucher said as Kevin's parents stood nearby. "Go to a place of joy."

Le parrain de Kevin Lavallée, Gaétan Lavallée libère une colombe après le service funèbre hier à Massueville.

Kevin Lavallee's godfather, Gaetan Lavallee, releases a dove after Kevin's funeral service yesterday in Massueville.