RCMP say no serious injuries following train involved collision near Fincastle

Times Photo by Meg Noguchi. COLLISION: A train collided with a tractor-trailer unit adjacent to the intersection of Highway 3 and Range Road 160 east of Taber on March 17, near the hamlet of Fincastle.

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Mounties have confirmed no serious injuries were reported after a CPKC train collided with a semi-trailer near the hamlet of Fincastle on March 17.

An online video making the rounds on social media captured the moment the train struck the trailer, which had stopped on the track crossing at approximately 2:20 p.m. on Highway 3 near Range Road 160.

During a press conference held by RCMP outside Edmonton on March 18, Cpl. Troy Savinkoff told reporters the semi pulling the trailer had stopped at a railway crossing marked with an active stop sign and then decided to proceed through as the train was approaching.

“Unfortunately the train wasn’t able to stop in time, striking the back portion of the semi truck,” Savinkoff told media. “There aren’t any serious injuries reported from this collision, I do know that the driver of that semi has been issued a ticket for driving carelessly.”

Mounties confirm the driver was fined $850.

CN Police say there was also a collision between a CN operated train and a logging truck near Whitecourt on Highway 43.

“Drivers in the province need to be alert and need to be aware,” said Insp. Brian Jones.