Humboldt RCMP and CN Police are still investigating an incident that occured just after midnight on Saturday, Aug 22.
A 21-year-old woman was crossing the tracks between the rail cars with a group of other people when the train started to move, reports Corporal Bob Anderson with the Humboldt RCMP.
The woman slipped causing her leg to be run over by the train, right above the ankle.
She was taken first by ambulance to Humboldt hospital where she was then transported to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon where her foot was amputated.
The woman has not been identified but is orginally from the Yellow Quill First Nations. It is unclear whether she is now living in Humboldt or was visiting with friends. She will not likely be fined, says Anderson.
According to the Transportation Safety Board, there was 55 accidents involving trespassers and 180 involving rail crossings in Canada in 2014. Out of those incidences, 57 resulted in a fatality.
In Saskatchewan, there was only two reported accidents involving a peron tresspassing in 2014, one resulting in death, one with no serious injuries. Thirty-three people were involved in crossing accidents in Saskatchewan in 2014, 2 resulting in death and 7 seriously injured.
Kate Fenske with CN Rail that incidences like this should not be happening in places with education programs about the dangers of trespassing are in place.
“The incident this past weekend is a sad reminder of the dangers of trespassing on railway property. It’s not only illegal, it’s very dangerous.”
Fenske says that education about rail trespassing is everyone’s responsibility and urges people to call CN Police at (800) 465-9239 if they see people trespassing on the tracks.
Reminders from CN Rail:
· Never walk or play on train tracks. It’s dangerous and illegal.
· Never play or stay near a stopped train.
· Cross train tracks at designated highway/railroad crossings.
· Look for signals and respect them.
· Be prepared to stop at crossings.
· Cross the tracks in low gear; do not change gears while crossing.
· Stalled vehicle? Get out quickly and move away from the vehicle and tracks.
· Listen for warning bells and whistles when approaching a crossing.
· Remember one train can hide another. Wait for the train to pass through the crossing, then wait again, to be sure that a second train is not approaching on another track in the same or opposite direction.
