Third person hurt in Woss derailment dies of injuries
WOSS One of the three people injured in Thursday’s train derailment has died, bringing the death toll to three.
Two men remain in hospital with severe injuries after a Western Forest Products logging train derailed near Woss, a hamlet between Port McNeill and Campbell River.
The train was in a re-load yard when it suddenly rolled down the tracks and collided with a track maintenance car where the men were working. The collision caused logs to spill across the railway tracks, trapping at least three workers underneath, said Woss regional district director David Rushton.
“A whole load of logs came down and trapped some guys,” said Rushton, a retired logger. “I know everybody involved, the whole community does. It’s a tough time for our little community.” He said it’s too early to identify the victims.
B.C. Ambulance unit chief Nat Pottage said by the time he arrived, two men had been rescued from under the logs. It took about 60 loggers, firefighters, police and paramedics just under five hours to get the last man out from under the logs, he said.
Western Forest Products crews used excavators to carefully remove logs one by one so the pile didn’t collapse.
Dr. Brendan Carr, CEO and president of Island Health, thanked the first responders on Friday.
“I would also like to acknowledge the emergency response efforts of the residents of Woss and neighbouring communities, the RCMP and victim services, B.C. Emergency Health Services, North Island Critical Incident Response Network, North Island Crisis and Counselling teams and all of those who rallied during this crisis,” Carr said.
Counsellors from the Upper Island Counselling Services Society were in Woss offering support to anyone who needs it. Woss has a population of under 200 people.
RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Tammy Douglas said it’s unclear what caused the logging train to hit the track maintenance car and derail.
The RCMP, B.C. Coroners Service, WorkSafeBC and the Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
Western Forest Products president and CEO Don Demens said in a statement: “At this time, we express our deepest concern and condolences to the families, friends, and co-workers of those whose lives were lost this morning and who are injured. Our hearts and minds are with them.”
The train was travelling on the Englewood Railway, a 90-kilometre logging line which runs from Vernon Lake, through Woss, past Nimpkish Lake Provincial Park to Beaver Cove. It’s believed to be the last operating logging railway in North America.