Man taping trains gets hit by one

May 05, 2009 04:30 AM
Precious Yutangco STAFF REPORTER - Toronto Star
He was hit by a train and lived to tell about it.
A 38-year-old man was walking along the tracks at a CP Rail facility trying to record the sounds of trains for a documentary when he was struck Sunday.
It happened around 7:45 p.m. near Dundas St. W. and Keele St.
"He had on headphones with a boom mic to record the sounds of passing trains," said Sgt. Tim Burrows.
The conductor spotted the man and tried to stop the train, but the left front-end hit him as it came to a halt. The man was conscious and breathing when he was taken to St. Michael's Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening facial injuries and a fractured arm.
It is unclear why the man was so close to the tracks or why he did not move, police said. They are trying to figure out if he couldn't hear the train because he was listening to a previous recording or if he was trying to record the sound of the approaching train. Police say the man was working with friends, none of whom had permission from CP Rail to be on the property.
During the rescue, firefighters had to use bolt cutters to enter the area, which was surrounded by a chain-link fence, metal sheeting and three-metre high walls.
Burrows said an incident like this is a harsh reminder about why there are laws in place when it comes to trespassing near railways.
"Nobody is supposed to be there except for the train or maintenance crew," he said.
The case is being treated as an accident. Police say it is too soon to say whether charges will be laid.