Police investigate after person struck, killed by train in Lakeshore
Passenger train service in and out of Windsor was shut down Wednesday morning as police investigated a person being struck and killed by a Via Rail train in Lakeshore.
“Our thoughts, of course, are with those affected by this incident,” a Via Rail representative said in an email to The Windsor Star.
Via Rail told the Star that train No. 70 (Windsor-toronto) was “involved in an incident with a trespasser” near Puce around 6 a.m. Wednesday. No passengers or service crew were injured on the Toronto-bound train.
A coroner and multiple OPP officers were at the scene of the fatality on the Via Rail tracks at Old Tecumseh Road and County Road 22. At least one OPP cruiser was also parked on the train tracks.
Essex County OPP have provided no information about the incident Wednesday morning, except to say that a continued police presence could be expected in the area.
“There will be an increased police presence this morning in the area of Old Tecumseh Road and County Road 22 at the Via Rail tracks in the Municipality of Lakeshore,” police posted on social media.
“No roads are impacted and no concerns for the safety of the public.”
Police also did not confirm it was a fatality, though it was clear at the scene that was the case.
Via Rail said it contacted emergency services and local authorities after the incident. It said train No. 70 was eventually allowed to continue on its way to Toronto.
But the company said late Wednesday morning that the tracks were shut down for the investigation, causing delays for VIA trains No. 71 and No. 72.
“Via Rail acknowledges that this tragic situation had an effect the travel plans of our customers and we apologize for the inconvenience,” the company said.