Man killed by Via Rail train

A man was struck and killed by a Via Rail train heading from Montreal towards Toronto  going eastbound just before seven a.m. this past Tuesday morning in Dorval.

"A pedestrian was hit by a train near the airport in Dorval," explained SPVM media relations officer Daniel Lacoursière on a voice mail. 
The police could not give further details as they were on the scene of the accident to "establish the circumstances" explained Lacoursière.

Witnesses told police the man was walking beside the railroad the tracks and the train engineer saw the man, using the train's horn to alert him but to no avail.  The pedestrian did not stop and the train could not stop in time.

The man was declared dead at the scene.

Local radio reported that Via Rail spokesperson Malcolm Andrews could not determine why the man was on the tracks since "this area east of the Dorval Station is not one where trespassing is common."

Calls to Andrews were not returned by press time. 

          — Kevin Woodhouse