A tragic accident
Two teenagers were struck and killed by a train while walking on the railway tracks near Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West in Toronto on Tuesday night, police said. The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. when the UP Express train was travelling from Pearson Airport to Union Station.
The victims, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they were not wearing headphones or earbuds and did not hear the train’s horn or bells. The train operator tried to brake but could not stop in time, police said.
The identities of the victims have not been released, but police said they were friends who lived in the area. They were not students of the nearby Weston Collegiate Institute, according to the school’s principal.
An investigation underway
The Toronto Police Service, the coroner’s office, and Metrolinx, the agency that operates the UP Express, are investigating the incident. Police said they are looking into why the teens were on the tracks and whether they were trespassing or crossing at an unauthorized point.
Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said the UP Express service was suspended for several hours after the incident and resumed around midnight. She said the train operator and crew were “very shaken” and received counselling and support.
Aikins also said that Metrolinx has been working to prevent trespassing and accidents on the railway tracks by installing fences, signs, cameras, and sensors. She urged the public to stay away from the tracks and only cross at designated areas.
A community in shock and grief
The incident has shocked and saddened the community of Weston, where the teens lived. Many residents and friends of the victims gathered at the scene on Wednesday morning to pay their respects and leave flowers, candles, and messages.
Some of the mourners said they knew the teens personally and described them as kind, smart, and fun-loving. They said they were devastated by the loss and could not believe what happened.
The Weston Collegiate Institute also offered counselling and support to its students and staff who were affected by the incident. The school’s principal said the incident was a “terrible tragedy” and a “reminder of how precious life is”.
