15 October 2007
Teen Struck by Train, Recovering in Hospital; Likely Wearing an iPod When Hit
Sudbury Ontario - A teen is recovering in hospital after
he was struck by a train in Sudbury on Friday.
"Thankfully, in this situation it did not result in a fatality," said Breanne Feigel, spokesperson for Canadian Pacific
Railway. "Of course, we are always concerned when somebody gets hurt."
The incident is "an example of the dangers of trespassing and the reasons why we ask individuals to stay off of our tracks."
The 15-year-old was struck by a slow-moving CPR train near the level crossing at Frood Road and Beatty Street
at about 10 p.m., police said. He suffered serious, but not life-threatening, injuries and is being treated at Sudbury
Regional Hospital.
Police are still investigating, but said the boy was trespassing and may have been wearing an iPod at the time.
Feigel said train crews saw the teen and "did everything according to protocols."
The whistle was sounded, lights were flashed, and the train was put into emergency stop mode, she said.
"Unfortunately, it does take 1,000 metres for a train to stop. We did make contact with the individual," Feigel said.
Deputy police chief Frank Elsner said it was a "grazing blow" rather than a head-on impact. He said the boy had
head injuries.
Elsner said the circumstances were similar to an incident in Peel Region about a week ago.
"Two incidents in the last week, two weeks apart, occurred where exactly the same thing happened: kids were walking on the
railway track, listening to music so loud they couldn't tell a train was coming along," he said.
"The train screamed, the whistle blew, and he didn't hear a thing."
The boy's father said that under the circumstances, "he's doing well."
However, the teen suffered head, facial, shoulder, and wrist injuries, the father said, adding the boy will need plastic surgery. His
son was returning home after visiting friends. He had "no idea" how the accident happened.
Elsner, though, cautioned residents that walking along railway tracks is trespassing.
And when it comes to MP3 players and iPods, ensure you're aware of your surroundings rather than concentrating on the music.
"Anyone who is riding a bike, driving a car, or walking in the middle of the street, you have to know what's going on around
you," said Elsner.
"And if you're listening to music so loud you can't hear, you're asking for trouble."
According to Operation Lifesaver Canada, there were 66 trespassing accidents on rail tracks across the country between January and
August resulting in 35 fatalities and 15 cases of serious injury.
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