14 September 2005
Motorist Killed, 14 Cars Jump Tracks
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Canadian Pacific rail workers examine the site of a train
derailment near Melbourne. A truck driver was killed in the collision that nearly triggered an evacuation
of area residents.
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Melbourne - Fourteen boxcars derailed and a truck driver was killed when a freight train and a truck
collided near here yesterday.
The crash nearly led to an evacuation of area residents.
Though none of the Canadian Pacific rail cars knocked off the tracks in the early morning crash was carrying dangerous cargo, an
unscathed tanker of anhydrous ammonia - right behind the train's mangled cars - could have forced nearby residents out of their homes.
"They're (residents) lucky, very fortunate, it stopped where it did," said Kim Nelles, a Transportation Safety Board
inspector, adding an ammonia spill would have "definitely" forced an evacuation.
"Anhydrous ammonia is not something that's going to explode... but you do get an inhalation problem if it does leak."
Just before 7:30 a.m., a truck heading north on Melbourne Road crashed into the 87-car CP train at a crossing just north
of Glendon Drive.
The driver of the truck, a 45-year-old man from Mt. Brydges, was killed. The driver's name wasn't released.
Brad Carruthers, owner of Carruthers Water Delivery, which owned the truck, declined to discuss the crash.
No one on board the train - which was heading to Toronto from Windsor - was hurt, Strathroy police said.
With thick patches of fog covering parts of Melbourne Road, several residents figured weather may have played a role in the crash.
Jennifer Brideau, who arrived at the crossing just after the collision, said driving conditions were far from ideal.
"You almost get upon (the scene) and you see it. That's how it was," Brideau said. "It was foggy to the point where
you really would slow down."
Strathroy police and CP officials were working together to determine what caused the collision.
The wreck wasn't expected to be cleared until early this morning, said CP spokes-person Paul Thurston.
"Once the local police force releases the scene to us, we will work in earnest to repair the track and clean it up," he said.
The rail crossing doesn't have a history of crashes, Nelles said. It doesn't have gates, but is outfitted with flashing lights. The
lights were flashing when investigators arrived at the scene, Nelles said.
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