Innisfail RCMP is continuing its investigation into the July 13 death of a local man who was killed by a Canadian Pacific train while lying across the tracks near the 42nd Street rail crossing.
Police are waiting to view the train camera, mounted at the front of the lead locomotive, to conclude their probe, said Innisfail RCMP Sgt. Jeff Hildebrandt.
“We are still following up on a few things, one of which is that a video is available from the front of the CP train and once we work through the bureaucracy of getting that video downloaded to us and have a chance to review it we will have a better idea of how we are going to conclude the file,” said Hildebrandt.
“I am not sure where the perspective of the camera is from. However, when we were dealing with the CP police officers at the scene we were made aware that it was available. However, there is some bureaucratic delays in obtaining it and the matter in which it needs to be downloaded,” he added. “Apparently there is only one place that does that. Requests have to be made in order to obtain it for our investigation.”
Hildebrandt said RCMP received a call during the morning of July 13 that there was a train-pedestrian collision a kilometre and a half south of the 42nd Street rail crossing. He said a lone male was identified on the train tracks.
At the request of the family, RCMP is not releasing the man's name. However, sources have told the Province he was 35 years old and was a resident from the Innisfail area.
Hildebrandt said the current police probe is not a criminal investigation but they are still attempting to determine whether the death was an accident or self-inflicted.
“In any sudden death it is (self-inflicted) something we are exploring but we are not ruling out anything at this point and the investigation remains open,” said Hildebrandt. “We are still collecting facts. We are still interpreting those facts and we have yet to come to a final conclusion.”
Last week a Canadian Pacific spokesperson said a CP freight train was travelling northbound through town at about 10:50 a.m. Saturday when crews observed an individual lying across the tracks.
The train's engineer sounded the horn and put the train into an emergency brake application but could not stop before striking the man, said the spokesperson.
The CP spokesman said a new crew relieved the train's staff. The RCMP, assisted by CP Police, finished its investigation at the scene at about 2 p.m. The train then resumed operations.
The funeral of the deceased was held July 18 in Millarville, Alta.
