A 20-year-old driver is in critical condition after losing control of his vehicle and hitting a power pole early Saturday morning in the municipality of Frontenac, in Estrie.

The swerve took place around 3 a.m., on Route 161. According to initial information from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the man, with a seat belt that was incorrectly or not worn, lost control of his vehicle, one or more rolls and finally ended up hitting a utility pole so hard that it gave way under the force of the impact.

The young man was transported to a hospital center, where he remains in critical condition. “When he is in good condition, blood samples will be taken to check if he was impaired by drugs or alcohol, a hypothesis considered,” said Catherine Bernard, spokesperson for the SQ.

A police officer specializing in collision investigation was requested on site to analyze the scene and try to determine the exact circumstances of this exit from the road.