2 July 2005
Man Crossing Tracks Hit by Train
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RCMP, firefighters and paramedics
carry a man who was hit by a train to an ambulance
Wednesday.
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Haney - A 36-year-old man was rushed to Royal
Columbian Hospital in New Westminster Wednesday afternoon with critical injuries after he was struck
by an eastbound freight train at Haney station.
RCMP said in a release issued afterward that the man was seen trespassing on the tracks just before
4 p.m., and that he was climbing across a parked train. He then carried on towards the track that the
oncoming train was on.
"Our investigators received accounts from the scene who say that they saw this person step off
onto the tracks," said Ed Greenberg, media spokesperson for Canadian Pacific Rail. "The crew
of the eastbound freight train did spot him at the last minute. They made an emergency stop."
Making an emergency stop with a train can take up to one kilometre. Police said the train managed to
stop in less than 500 metres, but still hit the man.
"He had severe lower limb injuries," said Maple Ridge fire chief Dane Spence, who was on
scene.
Small crowds gathered by the station shortly after the incident occurred and were moved back or asked
to move along by RCMP and fire officials. Emergency services personnel attended to the man quickly and
brought him to an ambulance.
"Last I heard from the investigator this morning was that his injuries are very
serious,"" Cpl. Gord Brownridge of Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows RCMP said Thursday.
As of Thursday the man, believed to be a former Maple Ridge resident, was still listed in critical
condition.
This is the third incident involving people and trains in Maple Ridge since early May. "We're
very concerned about the entire issue of safety around rail crossings and rail tracks," Greenberg
said. He said train crew members were offered critical incident support to help cope with what they
witnessed. "It's traumatic on everyone," he said. "We view it as a community concern
that we want to work with community members on to avoid tragedies."
Kenneth Wayne Stanton, 35, was struck and killed by an eastbound West Coast Express train
10 May 2005 while walking eastbound down the tracks near 248 Street and Lougheed
Highway.
A second man, whose name was not released, was killed 13 May 2005 when his pickup truck,
which he had reportedly been driving through the lowered rail crossing arms, was struck by a train
near 287 Street.
Greenberg said CP Rail tries to continuously remind people to be cautious near railway tracks and
crossings.
Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact Cst. Rutherford of Ridge Meadows RCMP
at 604-463-6251.
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