Man hit by train in MoWest dies

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A 71-year-old man hit by a commuter train while crossing the tracks at Westminster near Sherbrooke last month passed away from his injuries, Mayor Beny Masella announced at the April 25 council meeting.

The incident took place around 4:20 p.m. April 4. Police told The Suburban soon after the accident that the man was in stable condition and that there was no fear for his life. He had suffered leg and head injuries, and the conductors of the train had been treated for shock.

Masella told last week’s council meeting that “from what we gathered, the barriers were working, the bells were ringing, the lights were flashing, and the policeman was at the intersection — we do not know why it did not prevent the person to cross the tracks then. Unfortunately, the gentleman succumbed to his injuries last week.

“This is now in the hands of the coroner who will lead an investigation into the incident,” the Mayor said, adding that the town has been in touch with the SPVM and is also getting in contact with commuter train operator EXO.

Masella explained that “our goal is to see what else can be done to further secure the intersection.

“It is particularly frustrating when all the safety measures in place were fully functioning, and we still have a tragic outcome. Our sincerest sympathies go out to the next of kin of the deceased.”

As previously reported, the rail crossing at Westminster has been a locale of much discussion and controversy over the years. Recently, a train caught fire near the station. Cars, on some occasions, have also been caught between the barriers that come down when a train is passing by and the tracks.

During a 2018 council meeting, Masella referred to the crossing as the riskiest in the country, which he downgraded from “most dangerous” as no serious accidents had taken place there up to that time. n

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