RIVERS
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ersary v i n Celebrating our 107th An
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Volume 108, Issue 14
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Photo by Colin Corneau/Brandon Sun
Train tackles truck, train wins
By Sheila Runions Banner Staff
A
t 12:42 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6 a 77-yearold Strathclair man required hospitalization after a train accident on Hwy. 270 southeast of Rivers. RCMP consider the case closed and are releasing few details; CN continues to investigate but are
also releasing few details. “A westbound CN train struck a vehicle travelling southbound,” says CN regional manager Kate Fenske. “A male occupant was transported by emergency services to hospital.” RCMP’s Media Relations Officer Sgt. Bert Paquet says, “The
driver and lone occupant of a Silverado pickup truck was first taken to Brandon hospital but then transported to a Winnipeg hospital with serious injuries (no specific details) and no updates on his condition. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor. Our file has been concluded.”
The man’s identity is not being released and speculations of why the accident occurred on a clear bright day, at a controlled crossing, are still a mystery. “The crossing is protected by lights and gates,” says Fenske. “Our indications are that they were functioning as designed
at the time of the incident. The train hit the truck; there was no significant damage to the engine. The track was shut down for a little over an hour so no trains were moving during that time. All we have right now are that the circumstances are under investigation.”