Three killed as Canadian train derails west of Toronto
A Canadian Via Rail passenger train derailed west of Toronto Sunday, killing three railroad employees and injuring dozens of passengers.
The three people killed were all employees of train line Via Rail who were riding in the locomotive at the front of the Via Rail train when it derailed in Burlington, Ontario, officials said. No passengers died, but 45 were injured, according to Via Rail spokeswoman Michelle Lamarche, nydailynews.com reports.
She said 75 people were on board the train traveling from Niagara Falls to Toronto when it derailed. Three passengers were airlifted to hospitals, one with a heart attack, another with a broken leg and the third with a back injury. Forty-two other passengers suffered less-serious injuries and were either treated at the scene or sent to local hospitals.
The locomotive and one passenger car flipped onto their sides and crashed into a small trackside building. At least two passenger cars behind it were driven off the tracks into a L-shape. All six cars derailed, Via officials said.
Police haven't released any details about the accident. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has sent a crew of investigators to the scene. Lamarche said they will examine the date recorder on board.
