Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1990, October 24 - Train crew member killed by VIA train at Brockville, CNR., Kingston sub.

Ottawa Citizen 26 October 1990 Death of rail worker puzzles investigators. Federal transport and CN Rail officials are puzzled by the death of a train crew member who was struck by a VIA Rail train Wednesday afternoon. Robert Tripp, 42, of Thomasburg, 6nt., had repaired an air line and was returning to the engine of a stalled CN freight train about five kilometres west of Brockville when he was struck by a VIA train. VIA trains can reach a cruising speed ofabout 150 kilometres an hour on that stretch of railway, said Brockville OPP Const. Paul Disson. Tripp is the second CN worker to die oh the tracks in the last few weeks. On Sept. 19, 41-year-old maintenance worker Robert Brown died when he was struck by a VIA train at a level crossing in Cornwall. Brockville coroner Dr. Paul O'Connor said he had not decided whether to hold an inquest into Tripp's death. O'Connor said investigators assume Tripp could not see the VIA train, even though he had a clear view and could step to the side easily. He said the problem may have been because Tripp couldn't hear the train A witness reported that Tripp was facing in the direction of the VIA train, but turned around and looked at something else, said Disson. CN spokesman Marissa LaCaria said investigations are always called as soon as there is an accident in a federal workplace. Tripp, a 14-year veteran of CN train crews, was working within CN procedure when he walked to the damaged railway car. The VIA train was probably travelling at about 80 kmh, said LaCaria. VIA engineers usually sound the horn if they see someone on the line

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Updated 4 August 2020