British Columbia

Man injured after being struck by train in White Rock

Surrey RCMP say the 58-year-old victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being struck Sunday afternoon. Police say he was trying to get his dogs off the tracks when he was struck.

Surrey RCMP say the 58-year-old victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries

An ambulance was called just before 1 p.m. Sunday after a man was reportedly hit by a train in White Rock. (Shane MacKichan)

A 58-year-old Surrey man sustained non-life-threatening injures after being struck by a train in White Rock Sunday afternoon.

It happened around 1 p.m. PT near the 15800 block of Marine Drive, in Semiahmoo Park. 

RCMP say the man was trying to get his two unleashed dogs off the tracks, out of the way of the train when he was struck.

Gus Melonas, who speaks for Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), says the train was travelling around 32 km/h when crews spotted the man.

"The train was whistling, the bells were working," he said. "The crew went into an emergency brake situation to stop."

The victim was sent to hospital in serious condition. (Shane MacKichan)

B.C. Emergency Health Services originally said the victim was in serious condition.

Melonas says no BNSF workers were injured. Company investigators, along with RCMP, are trying to figure out what led to the incident

RCMP say the dogs were not injured.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Surrey RCMP.

Active rail line

White Rock is hosting its annual Sea Festival on Sunday, meaning there are more people than usual along the waterfront and train tracks.

Melonas says BNSF crews will be patrolling the area to make sure people are aware that the tracks are an active rail line and they stay off them.