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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Metrolinx Statement on Fatality at Union Station

TORONTOApril 29, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, Metrolinx President and CEO Bruce McCuaig and GO President Greg Percy issued the following statements regarding last night's fatality at Union Station:
"On behalf of everyone here at Metrolinx, I would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest sympathies over this tragic incident. I cannot stress how saddened we are.
Our hearts go out to the individual's loved ones during this very difficult time, as well as the passengers and staff who have been impacted.
I also want to say to the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on GO Transit that their safety is our number one priority and our commitment to their well-being is unwavering."
– Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO of Metrolinx
***
"At approximately 5:35 p.m. yesterday evening, there was a fatal incident at Union Station involving a man on a platform and one of our GO Trains bound for Barrie.
An initial investigation by the Toronto Police Service suggests that the man's bag became caught on the train as it was leaving the station. Their investigating is ongoing and, as a result, we are not in a position to provide further details. We will continue to cooperate fully in the investigation.
As always, our first and foremost concern is the safety of our passengers.  During Rail Safety Week, this is a solemn reminder for all of us to continue to place safety at the very top of our priorities. Whatever the cause of this incident, we urge every passenger to value their own safety as much as we do – always stay behind the yellow line, stay alert, and be mindful of your surroundings.
We are extremely saddened by this tragic event, and all our thoughts and prayers are with the individual's family and friends at this time."

– Greg Percy, President of GO Transit
SOURCE Metrolinx

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rather glad he said something than say nothing at all...

Anonymous said...

this sounds much better than that other lady's statement blaming the victim..

Anonymous said...

It looks like the UP express train at Union has gates in front of their trains to prevent this horrible incident from happening. Maybe if the rest of union station got the same treatment, this tragedy would have been avoided.

Calvin Henry-Cotnam said...

This may sound cold, but there is a reality here that is being avoided in reports of this story. The world is full of people who go about their business as if there is no other person in the entire universe. Whether they are driving, walking, or using transit, their world is all that matters. We are all guilty of it at one point or another, but some raise it almost to an art form.

This very blog has a major raison d'etre based on this. Just look at the postings on Departure Door Donkeys, Smoking Donkeys, and the ever-famous feet on the seat Donkeys.

What is being ignored here is that there are far too many people with backpacks who take transit and fail to realize that said backpack forms a protrusion from their body that takes up space that they can easily forget can hit things without their awareness. Usually, this involves another passenger who is innocently going about their business that gets thwapped by the backpack wearer who feels the need to turn suddenly.

Unfortunately, it was inevitable that one day a sudden movement while wearing a backpack would involve snagging it on something that couldn't simply say, "Hey! Watch it buddy!"

It is terrible that this ended in a fatality, but people have to learn not to wear backpacks on transit or in crowded areas.

C.J. Smith said...

I call backpacks back people for a reason.
Thank you so much for your comment.
Hopefully his death wasn't in vain and that many things can be learned from this tragedy.