14 April 2005
Chief Waiting for More
Facts on Train Accident
Kenora - Wabaseemoong
(Whitedog) Chief Ron Roy McDonald said he is waiting for more information, before making up his mind
about Saturday's train accident. While one of his band members was seriously injured and there is
evidence he was in a scuffle before the event, McDonald isn't going to jump to conclusions to say
either incident was race-related.
"We are concerned as a community," he said Wednesday, as investigators continue to piece
together the events preceding the accident. "We're in a state of shock and feeling
pressure," he added, noting the rumours continue to swirl in both Kenora and Whitedog.
However, the chief acknowledged Cameron's memory is still foggy, due to the extreme shock to his
system, as well as the use of painkillers as part of his medical treatment. "We're just going to
wait until he can remember clearly," he concluded.
Officers with the criminal investigations branch of Kenora Police Service have said Cameron reported
to police in the early morning hours Saturday, at least seven hours before the accident. According to
police records, Cameron was already at the hospital and he told officers he had been involved in a
scuffle with five others. Investigators have also talked with witnesses, who described Cameron as
intoxicated in the hours before the accident.
However, it remains far from clear how he came to be injured, reported Community Services officer
Const. Bob Bernie. Since the crew of the train don't remember seeing him, much less hitting him, there
are a number of theories about how Cameron may have found himself underneath the train.
It's possible he may have been under the train when it started to move. It's also possible that he may
have tried to climb on, when he slipped and got caught underneath.
Kenora Police officers are continuing their investigation with the help of staff from Canadian Pacific
Railways.
While the Wabaseemoong chief understood from his conversations with Cameron that three of the five may
have been non-aboriginals, McDonald also understood the other two may have been
aboriginal, which is why the chief is waiting for more information before saying the incident was
instigated by racism.
The accident victim's cousin, Adolphus Cameron, also said Tuesday he was waiting for the facts to come
out before reaching conclusions. "He's really lucky he's still alive," he said, noting his
cousin has a wife and two young children at home.
As of Wednesday evening, Ron Cameron was listed in stable condition in intensive care at the Lake of
the Woods District Hospital, although there was still a possibility he might be transferred to
Winnipeg for further medical treatment.
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