Death On Toronto-Bound Via Rail Train
Friday May 9, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
A woman has died and 10 other passengers are in hospital after a flu-like outbreak on board a Via Rail train. The train, travelling from Vancouver to Toronto, is now under quarantine near Timmins.
Marc Depatie of the Foleyet OPP said that the female passenger was picked up in Jasper, Alberta with a tour group and appears to be in her 60s. It's not known if she was travelling with family.
There were 260 passengers and 30 crewmembers on board the train when it stopped in Foleyet. It's now quarantined at a CN Rail station.
Emergency crews in full protective gear searched the affected cars. It's believed, but not certain, that the outbreak is confined to only two cars. No one except emergency personnel is allowed on or off the trains. There is a doctor on board.
Sgt Laura Nichols, OPP said that she was called by CN at 8:35am Friday. "There was one person who had vital signs absent and five other people that were sick with flu-like symptoms," she reported.
That number quickly increased to ten, and all were taken to Timmins and District Hospital. One person was taken by air ambulance.
"The Timmins District Hospital is a regional hospital, and I'm confident they can handle it," Nichols allowed.
The tiny town - population 380- is coping with a flurry of activity.
"The whole place is being overrun with ambulances and police cars, and we've got helicopters," said Deborah DesRochers, chairwoman of the town. "They've got the train quarantined. They're trying to isolate what it is."
However, the OPP is confident Foleyet can cope. "We're implementing our emergency action plan," Depatie explained. "So that if there is a need for evacuation or if there's a need to contain these persons on the long-term basis, we're able to do that efficiently."
Passengers are helping out police with their investigation.
"We have their cooperation at present. We appreciate that very much," Depatie said. The OPP has not yet boarded the train, as the origin of the outbreak has not yet been determined.
"From an OPP perspective, all sudden deaths are deemed to be suspicious in nature until we determine the root cause," Depatie outlined. "So with that in mind, our crime unit is at the scene taking preliminary information down so we can perform an investigation of the event."
If you're looking for a relative or friend, Nichols confirms that an incident commander is en route. "He'll be working with local officials to try and get some processes together to help out those people, to get in contact," she says.
The cause of the outbreak has not yet been determined. It could be biological, chemical, or food-related.
Health Canada has also been called in.
Watch CityNews at Five and Six for the full story.
If you know someone on board, call 1-888-842-7245.
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