Accident shouldn’t have happened, CNR police says

Keeping a watchful eye over CN Rail property in the district for more than 18 months now, Cst. Pete LeDrew has been working hard to promote safety around train tracks and clamp down on trespassers.
And while trespassers have been warned and charged during that time, incidents have not been too serious for Cst. LeDrew—until Canada Day when a 17-year-old Couchiching male was struck by a CNR locomotive at the Armit Avenue crossing here around 3:30 a.m.
“I’m frustrated with it,” said Cst.
LeDrew. “If anything, I hope the public learned that a locomotive making an emergency stop at 10 m.p.h. takes 150 yards to stop.”^Cst. LeDrew, who is working with the OPP investigation into the incident, said the accident happened when the youth apparently fell asleep on the railroad tracks.
His neck was broken when he was hit by the train. He was transported to Winnipeg for treatment.
Because of the injury, police have not been able to communicate with the youth since the accident, Cst. LeDrew noted, adding the teen wasn’t the only victim in this case.
“The crew that was working that night was traumatized. Imagine having to stop the train, and then go back 150 yards and not knowing what you’ll find,” he remarked.
“I really hope we don’t see something like that again.”^Citing the July 1 incident, Cst.
LeDrew said he hopes the public gets the message that trespassing on CNR property is not only illegal, and can net you a fine, it’s potentially very dangerous, too.
With increased foot traffic in the summer months, children out of school, and some people staying outdoors later at night, Cst.
LeDrew said he’s prepared to take the increased possibility of pedestrian activity on CNR property very seriously.
He also noted the rail yard behind the 200 block of Third Street East has been much busier than usual—hence posing an increased chance of accidents for careless trespassers.
As a CN police officer, Cst. Le- Drew is empowered under the Highway Traffic Act, Trespass Property Act, and the Railway Safety Act.