21 February 2011
Woman Survives Collision with Train
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Two tow-truck operators work on removing a heavily damaged Ford as a CP Rail worker looks
on. |
Edmonton Alberta - A woman is lucky to be alive after her car was T-boned by a freight train and
dragged about four blocks.
"We don't know whether or not she saw the train," said Edmonton Police Service Staff Sgt. Gail Denys.
"Fortunately, her injuries are very minor."
Around 1 p.m. on Monday, the driver was going through a railway crossing near 88 Street and Argyll Road when her black Ford car was struck by an eastbound CP
Rail freight train, said Denys.
"It was dragged a couple of blocks and the train came to a stop just a little bit north of WP Wagner School," said Denys.
The side of the car was smashed in, but the vehicle did not flip.
The driver was rescued through the passenger door by firefighters. She was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Kevin Hyrsak, CP Rail spokesperson, said the crossing had no railway arms. The train carrying mixed freight, did not derail, he said.
"There were no leaks, and no environmental harms in that regard," said Hyrsak.
"We are still unsure of what happened, but unlike a vehicle, trains can't swerve out of the way to avoid something."
There are no injuries among the train crew.
Hyrsak said the train would most likely not be moved until the investigation is complete.
"These types of incidents are preventable and we are not sure what led up to this, but our crews did what they could to avoid it," said Hyrsak.
The woman's name and age have not been released.
Jasmine Franklin
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