Two children fell out of the trunk of a moving vehicle in Quebec after the rear hatch unexpectedly opened, provincial police confirmed. One of the children was injured in the fall. Five children, all between the ages of eight and 12, were riding inside the trunk of the vehicle when it happened, according to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), as reported by Global News Montreal.
What police say happened on the road
Five children, ages eight to 12, riding in the trunk
Police told Global News Montreal that five children aged eight to 12 were riding in the trunk of the vehicle at the time of the incident. The SQ has not released the identities of the children or specified their relationship to each other or to the driver.
The rear hatch opening and the fall
The rear hatch of the vehicle opened while it was in motion, according to police. Two of the five children fell out onto the road as a result. The SQ has not detailed the vehicle’s speed at the time or the exact stretch of road where the hatch opened.
Extent of the injuries and current condition
One child hurt, one uninjured, status of the other three
Of the two children who fell, one was injured and one escaped without injury, police said. The SQ has not released the nature or severity of the injured child’s injuries, nor confirmed the child’s current condition. The status of the three children who remained inside the vehicle has also not been detailed publicly.
Quebec provincial police response and investigation
Timeline of the call and arrival on scene
The SQ has not published a detailed timeline of when the call came in or how quickly officers arrived at the scene. Global News Montreal’s report, published September 8, 2026, indicates the incident and the police response happened on the same day.
What SQ has and hasn’t confirmed publicly
Police have confirmed the core facts: five children in the trunk, the hatch opening unexpectedly, two children falling, and one injury. Beyond that, the SQ has not said whether the driver has been identified or interviewed, whether any charges have been laid, or what led to the children being in the trunk in the first place. An investigation into the circumstances is presumably ongoing, though the SQ has not stated its scope or expected timeline.
Legal and safety context for unrestrained child passengers
Quebec’s child car seat and seatbelt laws
Quebec law requires that every occupant of a vehicle be secured by a seatbelt or, for younger children, a car seat matched to their age and weight. The province’s traffic safety code does not permit passengers, child or adult, to ride in a cargo area such as a trunk. Seatbelt and restraint requirements apply to every seating position equipped with a factory-installed belt, which trunks are not.
Why trunk space isn’t designed for passengers
A vehicle’s trunk is built to carry cargo, not people. It has no seatbelts, no crash-tested seating positions, and no interior padding meant to protect occupants during a collision or sudden stop. Rear hatches are designed to stay closed under normal driving conditions, but they aren’t built to contain the weight and movement of passengers shifting inside during transit. That’s a likely factor in how the hatch came open while the vehicle was moving.
What happens next in the case
Possible charges or citations under Quebec traffic law
Quebec’s Highway Safety Code allows for fines against drivers who fail to properly secure passengers, particularly children, inside a vehicle. Whether the driver in this case faces a citation or charge has not been confirmed by the SQ, and no arrests have been reported. The outcome will likely depend on findings from the police investigation into why the children were riding in the trunk and whether the driver knew about it.
What parents and guardians should know about vehicle seating rules
The incident is a reminder that trunks, cargo areas, and any space without a seatbelt are not legal or safe places for passengers of any age. Quebec’s child car seat and seatbelt requirements exist to prevent injuries from sudden stops, collisions, or mechanical failures like a hatch popping open in transit. Parents and guardians transporting groups of children, especially when a vehicle doesn’t have enough seatbelted positions for everyone, need to arrange a second vehicle or alternative transportation rather than placing children in unrestrained cargo space. The SQ has not yet said whether it will release further updates on the injured child’s condition or on any charges stemming from the investigation.