‘Ottawa’ Pedestrian Killed by Via Train at Smiths Falls
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a Via Rail passenger train in Smiths Falls Wednesday evening, police there say.
Local police were called in to investigate an incident “that struck a pedestrian that was on the tracks,” Smith Falls police Sgt. Jodi Empey said in a news release late Wednesday night.
“The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene,” Empey said.
Via train 646 from Toronto to Ottawa was halted for nearly three hours after the incident, which happened near Lorne Street in the eastern Ontario town.
“A police investigation beyond Via’s control is delaying train 646,” said an alert received by Sarah Dion-Marquis, a passenger on the train.
Stuck in train 646 @VIA_Rail from Toronto to Ottawa. Delays of approx. 2 hours are expected. pic.twitter.com/VStXIy6DEX
— Sarah Dion-Marquis (@sdionmarquis) November 24, 2016
“Via rail police services are on site collaborating with police and emergency services,” Mariam Diaby, a spokeswoman for Via Rail told the Citizen while passengers waited for an update.
“We are waiting for the coroner,” a Via rail employee said over the intercom, according to Dion-Marquis.
“We are waiting for the coroner,” says @VIA_Rail employee on the intercom. #via646
— Sarah Dion-Marquis (@sdionmarquis) November 24, 2016
The train reportedly resumed its journey at 11 p.m.