Trucker, 56, seriously injured in overpass crash

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This article was published 23/11/2024 (328 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 56-year-old semi-trailer driver has been seriously injured after his truck left an overpass, striking and derailing a freight train underneath at the Perimeter Highway and Fermor Avenue Friday.

Winnipeg Police Service Const. Stephen Spencer said the investigation into the crash that occurred just after 3 p.m. Friday is still underway and called the incident “unexpected.”

“I think everybody’s trying to figure out how this occurred, since the track and the road don’t intersect to some degree, there’s not an actual crossing the vehicles go over,” he said Saturday.

The driver was airlifted to hospital by STARS helicopter ambulance in unstable condition Friday, but his condition has been upgraded to stable with serious injuries, police said.

The crash resulted in the derailment of several train cars.

In a statement Saturday, CN said train operations have resumed at the site of the crash while cleanup continues.

“There were no leaks, fires or hazardous materials spilled,” the statement said.

Spencer said it was too early in the investigation to say if the driver is from Manitoba or works for a local company.

“This is a very isolated event… it was a very unique circumstance that led to this,” he said.

All roads in the area have reopened to motorists, the province said Saturday morning.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has camera footage is asked to call police at 204-986-7085 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers 204-786-TIPS or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca