A grieving father laments poor signage around the level crossing where his son died when he was hit head-on by a train he didn't see in Val-Brillant on Thursday.
• Also read: Collision with a train: A young man loses his life in Val-Brillant
“It’s dangerous, this sector. There are trees blocking the arrival of the train and there is no barrier!” laments Jocelyn Thompson the day after the tragedy.
On Thursday around 3:45 p.m., his son Denis was about to work on a farm in the area when the unthinkable happened near the intersection of Chemin de la Fauvette and Rue Saint-Pierre Est.
A path that the 28-year-old young man had taken every day, several times a day, for several years.
A makeshift cross was erected at the site of the tragedy. Photo provided by Jocelyn Thompson
“For us it is a total catastrophe, it creates a huge gap that will be difficult to close. “That child was as gentle as a lamb, everyone loved him,” breathes Mr. Thompson, his voice trembling.
“We talked shortly before he left and he wanted to visit me in the evening. At least I could hear his voice one last time. I told him I loved him,” the father added.
Several factors
According to Jocelyn Thompson, the icy road and lack of visibility of the railroad crossing were partly to blame for the impact.
It must be said that at this point there is no protective barrier preventing motorists from passing when a locomotive is approaching, only a “STOP” sign.
Jocelyn Thompson, father of Denis Thompson. Photo from Jocelyn Thompson's Facebook
“By the time he realized the train was coming, it was already too late to brake. He died immediately,” he explains.
According to Sûreté du Québec spokesman Frédéric Deshaies, glare from the sun may also have contributed to the collision.
Canadian National (CN) police officers and SQ investigators responded to the scene to analyze the scene and better understand what may have led to the impact.
The day after the tragedy, police officers were still on site. Provided by Jocelyn Thompson
Who is responsible?
When asked about the role of the municipality in signaling around the railway crossing in question, the general manager of Val-Brillant, Michaël Vignola, assured that stop signs were installed there “in accordance with current standards”.
“[Mais] “The safety of private level crossings is not the responsibility of the municipality, but of the CN and the owner of the access road,” he emphasizes.
Denis Thompson Photo from Denis Thompson's Facebook
A CN spokesperson contacted by Le Journal instead threw the ball back to Transport Canada, explaining that this element was the responsibility of the federal organization. The latter, for her part, did not respond to our interview request.
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