Saskatchewan

Sask. man killed in train crash immediately before derailment, says RCMP

A 57-year-old Saskatchewan man died in a crash involving a train immediately before a derailment Thursday afternoon, RCMP say. 

Police say 57-year-old man from the RM of Lajord was driving a road maintenance vehicle

A CN rail car
The Canadian National Police Service is at the scene of a train derailment northeast of Regina. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

Fort Qu'Appelle RCMP say a 57-year-old Saskatchewan man died in a crash involving a train immediately before a derailment Thursday afternoon.

Police first sent out a news release at 1:30 p.m. saying a train had derailed three kilometres west of Edgeley, Sask., on the 2154 grid — about one kilometre north of Highway 364.

The hamlet is about 50 kilometres northeast of Regina. 

At 8:25 p.m., RCMP sent an updated news release stating a preliminary investigation determined the eastbound train had collided with a maintenance vehicle travelling south at a level crossing.

The crash happened immediately before the train derailment, around noon, according to police.

A 57-year-old man from the rural municipality of Lajord, southeast of Regina, was driving the road maintenance vehicle. 

RCMP said he was pronounced dead at the scene and his family has been notified. 

No other injuries were reported to police.

Details about the number of derailed train cars and how the derailment happened are not yet known.

Fort Qu'Appelle, Indian Head and White Butte RCMP responded immediately to the scene, along with Canadian National police, a private service protecting the rail company's personnel and property.

RCMP say CN police continue to investigate on scene and will provide further updates to media. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniella Ponticelli is a reporter for CBC Saskatchewan. She has worked in print, broadcast and digital journalism in Manitoba and Saskatchewan since 2012. Get in touch with Daniella at daniella.ponticelli@cbc.ca or on Twitter @dponticelliTV.