Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1980, October 17 - Crossing collision Moose creek, CNR., Alexandria sub., one fatality, 3 injured

Ottawa Citizen  17 October 1980 Van collides with train; man killed A Nepean man was killed and three other men seriously injured Thursday when a small van collided with a passenger train at a level crossing near Moose Creek, 65 kilometres southeast of Ottawa. Donald Empey, 22, of Cheryl Road, died when he was thrown out and pinned under the van he was driving after it collided with Canadian National's Ottawa-Montreal train about 2:25 p.m. Provincial police in Long Sault said the driver attempted to stop, but the van skidded on the gravel road into the path of the locomotive. Employed by Kirby Vacuum Cleaners Co., in Ottawa, the four men were on the way to Monkland to pick up three other salesmen who had been canvassing in small communities in the area. Provincial police said the three passengers were also thrown from the vehicle after the collision. The train was travelling about 128 kmh. One of the three passengers, Mark Mantell, 18, of Newbury Ave., Nepean, is listed in critical condition at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Also at the Civic is Danny O'Brien, 20, of Campbell's Bay, Que. He is listed in fair condition. Listed in fair condition at the Ottawa General is Garry Masson, 22, of Emperor Ave., Ottawa. Empey died at the scene of the mishap. While there are no signals at the 8th Concession Road crossing where the accident occurred, police said trains are visible from a fair distance. None of the passengers on the train were hurt and the train continued to Montreal after police questioned the train's engineer.

Return to Main Page of Railway Accidents

Updated 10 June 2020