Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1970, May 26 - Passenger train fire kills a CNR crewman, Brockville, Kingston (CN) sub.

Ottawa Citizen 27 May 1970 Train fire kills CN crewman BROCKVILLE (Special) A Canadian National Railways crewman died near here Tuesday evening after fire broke out on train 54 en route from Toronto to Montreal. Dead is Gerard Gagne, about 60, of Montreal. The body was found in a smoke-filled club car when the train reached Brockville about 9.40 p.m. CNR officials said smoke was reported in the car abaut 20 miles west of Brockville and 10 passengers were evacuated to other coaches. The victim apparently was sleeping and was overlooked in the evacuation as the car's lighting system had failed. The fire is believed of electrical origin but investi gators have so far been unable to determine its cause or the exact spot it started. The train crew radioed ahead to Brockville from Mallorytown that the car was on fire and the city fire department had a truck waiting at the station when the train pulled in. Two city firemen, Lieutenant Lawrence Dunleavy and fireman Phil Sauve, entered the smoke-filled car and found the body lying across a seat The victim was brought out and taken to Brockville General Hospital where Coroner Dr. J. W. McDougall pronounced him dead. Dr. McDougall said an autopsy would be held today to de termine cause of death. Asphyxiation from smoke is believed responsible. CNR and Brockville police are continuing their investigation.

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Updated 10 April 2020