25 April 2007
Death at Rail Tracks Deemed an Accident
Salmon Arm British Columbia - The BC Coroner's Service has
deemed the death of a Salmon Arm youth an accident.
Nineteen-year-old Jeremy Duffy, best known to friends as Duffy, was found dead at the CP Rail tracks near First Nations
Road about 4 a.m. Friday, 28 Apr 2006.
The coroner's service has now released its judgment of inquiry into the death.
The conclusion from coroner Mel Walters states: "I find that Jeremy Douglas Duffy died in Salmon Arm, on
28 Apr 2006, as a result of injuries he sustained when he was struck by a train while he was sitting near the railroad
tracks. I classify this death as accidental and make no recommendation."
The coroner's report notes that train personnel stated their westbound train was entering a left curve at approximately 50 miles per
hour when they saw Duffy sitting very near to the train tracks with his back to the rails. Duffy was in the path of the locomotive's
cow-catcher, which overhangs both sides of the railway tracks. The crew initiated an emergency stop procedure but did not
see Duffy make any attempt to move as the train approached him. Duffy was struck on his right side by the cow catcher and thrown a
short distance to the right of the train.
A post mortem revealed that death was instantaneous when Duffy was struck.
Duffy had been at Jigger's bar earlier in the evening and had left a message on a friend's answering machine just after 2 a.m. when he
left the bar.
A toxicology examination revealed an alcohol concentration of 0.17 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit if driving a motor
vehicle - which Duffy was not.
The report also states that the presence of cannabis and cocaine in his blood indicates that Duffy was under the influence of those
substances at the time of his death.
The coroner's report notes that interviews with family and friends gave no indication that Duffy would want to harm himself.
"He was known to frequently consume alcohol and smoke marijuana but was described as a "positive" person and he had not
given anyone indications that he would want to harm himself," the report stated.
In the hour prior to Duffy's death, police were pursuing a suspect in six break and enters of businesses along Lakeshore Drive.
Although he was at first considered a suspect, police say the investigation into any possible links to the break-ins
regarding Duffy are closed.
Both friends and family of Duffy, who have described him as a sweet, loving, kind, thoughtful, supportive, and upbeat person, have
stressed that he was not the type of person to have been involved in such a crime.
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