Railway fatalities and injuries
The deaths of three teenagers killed by a train in Montreal on Sunday highlights the danger of trespassing on and around train tracks, rail officials say. This is a tragic, tragic accident and a sad reminder nobody should ever trespass on railroad property. People often misjudge how risky it is to wander on tracks. It’s extremely dangerous, and people think they will hear the train and have an idea of its speed, but they don’t hear it despite the noise, and it’s hard to judge the speed.
Police say five youths, between 17-and 19-years-old, were wandering along CN-owned railroad tracks in east-end Montreal early Sunday morning when three were hit by the train. Police think the youths may have been wandering on the rail tracks near the highway to do graffiti. The concrete pillars in the area make it a popular spot for local graffiti artists.
This case is another example that the message doesn’t seem to be getting through. Railway tracks are dangerous. It is not the place to go and party.
Transport Canada statistics indicate about 79 people per year are killed or seriously injured in trespassing accidents and, along with crossing accidents, are the main cause of railway fatalities and serious injuries.
In fact, the VIA Rail train involved in Sunday’s accident was running three hours late due to another rail-related death in Ontario. It was held up when a GO transit train struck and killed a 49-year-old man Saturday night in the Toronto area.
A separate VIA Rail train was involved in another fatal accident on Saturday. A train carrying 29 passengers from Sarnia to Toronto killed a man who was trespassing on tracks east of the Guelph, Ont., train station Saturday night.
Even when trains travel slowly they can’t stop quickly. It’s metal wheels on metal rails, and even when the brakes are fully applied the train will keep sliding along.
Let’s spread the word – stay away from railway tracks!