Fatality at Main Street crossing

February 11, 2014, 1:52 am
Kevin Weedmark

One person was killed in a collision between a Ford Windstar and a train at the Main Street railway crossing in Moosomin Wednesday. The collision occurred at approximately 4 pm Wednesday.
The van was southbound on Main Street and proceeded onto the train tracks where the eastbound train collided with the front passenger side of the van.

The driver and lone occupant of the van died at the scene. Next of kin have been notified and Victim Services are assisting the family of the deceased.

The deceased is 79-year-old Alfred Skulmoski of Moosomin.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Moosomin Fire Department, Moosomin RCMP, Hutch Ambulance Service, CP employees, and CP Police.

The railway crossing is controlled with flashing lights and crossing arms. According to Moosomin RCMP Sergeant Joe Telus, investigation into the accident is ongoing, however he says it appears the lights and crossing arms were working properly at the time of the accident.

“We are still talking to witnesses at this point . . . The lights were working according to witness accounts and they were flashing. The arms were down, and you could hear the bell,” said Telus.
“We are still looking into it, but it seems like everything was working properly.”

Telus says the Canadian Pacific police are looking into the accident as well.

“You never want to see something like that happen,” he says.

According to Salem Woodrow with CP media relations, CP’s investigation will focus on how the vehicle came to be on the tracks at the time of the collision.

“The crew put train into emergency brake application and sounded the whistle but unfortunately made contact with the passenger side of the vehicle,” she says.

“The crossing is equipped with lights, bells, and crossing arms. All safety devices were fully functioning as intended when the incident occurred.

“CP’s heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of the individual involved in this incident.
“These types of incidents are extremely hard on our crews as they are the first ones on the scene in these types of incidents. We relieved them of duty and offered critical stress counseling.
“CP Police are working are working jointly with the RCMP in the investigation.”