Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Semi rolls off highway onto railway track

A truck driver suffered bad luck when his semi-trailer slid off the East Perimeter Highway on Tuesday morning -- but the situation only got worse when his semi landed on railway tracks with a train coming.

The semi slid off the roadway, down an overpass embankment, over a ditch and ended up straddling a CP Rail line, where one of the truck's empty containers was hit by a train.

"Luckily, the train was slowing down as it entered the city," Springfield Fire Chief Dick Vlaming said.

"I think they were surprised to see a semi on the tracks but they couldn't stop in time."

The incident happened shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday. The semi was heading south on the east Perimeter when it slid off just north of Gunn Road and, a few minutes later, was struck by a westbound CP Rail train.

"The driver (of the semi) was out by then but the trailer was badly damaged," Vlaming said.

He said the semi driver suffered minor bruises as a result of the bumpy ride as his rig slid off the roadway.

The driver was treated by Winnipeg paramedics and taken to hospital.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 16, 2013 A4

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