INNISFAIL – A local cyclist is recovering from serious injuries at a Calgary hospital after he was struck by a train at the 42 Street rail crossing late in the evening on Oct. 10.
Just after 10 p.m., Innisfail RCMP was dispatched to the scene of the collision.
Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk said train crew reported they had struck a person on the rail tracks at the 42 Street rail crossing location. Innisfail RCMP attended the scene and assisted CP Rail Police with the investigation. Innisfail Fire Department and Guardian Ambulance Service also attended to care for the seriously injured 47-year-old local man.
Gary Leith, the town's fire chief, said by the time his crew arrived Guardian Ambulance was stabilizing the male patient.
He said the man had a severe lower leg injury and lacerations. Leith said the injured man was taken to Innisfail Health Centre where he was flown out by STARS air ambulance to Calgary's Foothills Hospital.
“His injuries are survivable,” said Leith.
Matechuk said police have a “theory” as to the cause of the train/cyclist collision but declined to elaborate. However, he confirmed the man was a cyclist.
“There was a bicycle located nearby,” said Matechuk. “The train had seen him and was unable to stop in time, (and) collided with him. They stopped as soon as they could.”
Matechuk said police are not considering laying any charges into the incident. However, he added RCMP and CP Rail Police will continue their investigation into the cause of the train crossing collision.
Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk
"The train had seen him and was unable to stop in time, (and) collided with him. They stopped as soon as they could."
