20 November 2010

Bypass Closed After Train Hits Truck

Langley British Columbia - Langley Bypass remains closed Saturday afternoon, following a collision between train and a truck at 8:15 a.m. Saturday.
 
The truck driver, a 35-year-old Abbotsford woman who is employed by a traffic control firm doing work in the area, was taken to hospital. Traffic in Langley City remains snarled, with long lines of traffic on Logan Avenue and Fraser Highway, as vehicles that normally use Highway 10 are forced to find detours.
 
Update at 4:30 p.m.:  The Bypass was opened to traffic later Saturday afternoon, and traffic is now flowing freely.
 
The train was stopped for some time in the morning as emergency services personnel were on scene, forcing more rail crossings to remain closed for an extended period of time.
 
Police were called to the scene at 8:15 a.m. The crossing where the collision took place is immediately west of Glover Road.
 
There is construction in the area and witnesses advised police that a flag person had parked a flag vehicle near the tracks. A train approached and the crossing gate arms descended onto the roof of the truck. The flag person ran to the vehicle and attempted to quickly move it to safety.
 
"Unfortunately, the train struck the vehicle, pushing it approximately 30 metres down the tracks, where it collided with a BC Hydro transformer box," Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks said.
 
The police press release stated that Langley Township fire department attended and extracted the flag person from the vehicle. She was taken by air ambulance to hospital for treatment of her serious, but non-life threatening, injuries.
 
The collision scene remains closed as the police investigation continues. Canadian Pacific Railway personnel are also on scene, as the collision damaged the shed containing equipment that operates the rail crossing signals and warning gates.
 
The police ICARS (Integrated Collision Analyst and Reconstruction Service) are also assisting, and CN Rail Police are also part of the the investigation, the police press release states.
 
Langley RCMP Client Support Services (formerly Victim Services) will attend the hospital to provide support to the flag person and her family.
 
Police were advising motorists to avoid the area earlier, while the train was stopped and emergency personnel were on scene. Traffic was moving by the noon hour, albeit with significant delays, although Highway 10 remained closed at the rail crossing.
 
Anyone who witnessed the collision and has not spoken to police is asked to call Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200.
 
Frank Bucholtz.