Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1929, June 28 - Crossing collision near Ironside, CPR., Maniwaki sub., one fatality, one injury

Ottawa Citizen 29 June 1929. Man Killed And His Son Hurt In Crossing Smash Isaac Diotte, Merchant of Duclos, Que Meets Death And Isidore Diotte, Aged 15, Severely Injured. Clear View From Road; Whistle Blown Twice Injured Boy Attributes Fatality to Failure of Truck Brakes to Work. Colliding almost head-on with the C.P.R.Maniwaki-Ottawa passenger train, due in Ottawa about 6 o'clock last evening, Isaac Diotte., merchant, of Duclos, Que., driving a Ford truck, was fatally injured at the Hammond crossing on the Chelsea Road, about half a mile from Ironside. His son, Isadore, aged 15 years, was seriously injured and is a patient at the Ottawa General Hospital, Water Street, where it was stated that he has a fair chance to recover. The truck was completely demolished and its parts and contents of general merchandise were strewn along the track for about a hundred yards. Following the crash, the train was brought to a stop and the two accident victims were placed aboard and brought to the city. From the station they were conveyed to the hospital in Burney and Son's ambulance. Mr. Diotte passed away as he was admitted to the hospital. His neck was broken and his skull fractured. More. Ottawa Citizen 4 July 1929 Engineer Says Autoists Threw Kisses at Him James Dunlop Declares He Never Saw Motoriist Stop For Crosing, at Inquest Into Ironside Fatality. "I never saw one stop for a crossing yet. You never know whether they are going to stop or not why they have turned and laughed at me. They have even thrown kisses at me " Such was the vehement denunciation of the general conduct of motorists in trying to beat a locomotive over level crossings, which featured the evidence of James R. Dunlop. locomotive engineer, at the inquest last evening into the death of Isaac Diotte. of Duclos. Quebec, who succumbed to injuries received when his motor truck was demolished in a collision near Ironside with a C.P.R Maniwaki-Ottawa passenger train on Friday, June 28. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The chief witnesses were the members of the train crew, and the evidence presented indicated that the whistle had been blown at the regulation distance from the crossing and also again within 200 yards of the highway; that the bell was sounded; that the train was travelling on scheduled time, and stopped, upon the application of the brakes, within one train length beyond the scene of the accident, and that the view was unobstructed. The witnesses who testified were: Emile Le Blanc, of Ironside; Leonard Gumbley; Dr. J. E. DeHaitre. who attributed death as being due to shock and hemorrhage; Isaac Thompson. train baggage man; Lome Richardson, fireman, and James R. Dunlop, locomotive engineer. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company was represented by Cuthbert Scott, local solicitor, and E. S. Chapham. district claims' agent, legal department, Montreal, while P. Dubois was present on behalf of the family of the deceased. Coroner Dr. J. E. Craig considered that it was unnecessary to adjourn the inquest in order to hear Isidore Diotte, the fifteen-year-old son of the deceased, who is at present in the Ottawa General Hospital with serious injuries as a result of the accident. The coroner stated that he did not think the boy could add any new light on the fatality.

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Updated 25 December 2020