8 November 2005
Gatineau Teens Die in Train Collision
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Investigators examine the spot on Cheval-Blanc Ave.
in Gatineau where a 20-year-old driver sped in front of a moving freight train yesterday after appearing to ignore
warning lights.
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Gatineau - Two teens are dead and a young man is clinging to life after their car was struck
by a train yesterday afternoon in a residential Gatineau neighbourhood.
The collision happened just minutes after 1 p.m. on Cheval-Blanc Ave., north of Maloney Blvd. Police are tying to determine
why northbound traffic stopped at the crossing, but the southbound Honda Civic didn't.
"The lights were working, also the sound signal," Gatineau police Lieut. J.P. LeMay said of the rail crossing.
On the north side of the tracks last night, the lights were still flashing ominously even though the train was at a standstill.
On the south side, the crumpled red coupe sat facing west, next to the eastbound train that had pushed it aside as it passed.
Its hood was up, its airbags deployed and bloodied. Lying in the grass nearby were the crossing lights that were knocked down by the
impact.
The train struck the car on its passenger side, instantly killing the 18-year-old man in the front seat. One neighbour
who rushed to the scene said he knew immediately there was no hope for him.
"VERY UGLY"
"It was the open eyes and mouth open," he said. "He looked like he was scared."
His girlfriend, who also declined to give her name, had been outside putting up Christmas lights when she heard the train whistle
blowing, followed by the impact.
"It was very ugly," she said of the scene.
Knowing nothing could be done to help the male passenger, she turned her attention to the girl in the back seat.
"She was bleeding a lot from the nose. When they (unbelted) her, she fell. I don't know if she was still alive," the woman
said.
"The only person I saw move was the driver," she said. "I just saw his arm go up."
The 18-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 20-year-old brother, who was behind the wheel,
remains in a Hull hospital in critical condition.
What's not clear is if he failed to see and hear the warnings or if he ignored them and tried to cross in front of the train.
"We're trying to confirm different statements we've had so far," LeMay said.
Although officers were seen removing drug paraphernalia from the car, LeMay couldn't confirm if drugs were a factor in the crash,
saying only that investigators are looking at all possibilities.
The Canadian Pacific Railway train had just picked up a load of paper products at the Scott factory in Hull.
LOCAL RESIDENTS
It was only towing five cars, which, combined with its lower residential speed, may be why it was able to stop relatively quickly. The
fifth car hadn't even entered the crossing.
No names have been released, but police said the three young people were all local residents.
Late yesterday, officials from the provincial ministry of transportation arrived from Quebec City to investigate.
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