Motor Vehicle Collision with Train near Fort Macleod

Today, March 6, 2012 at 11:30 am the Fort Macleod RCMP were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision between a black 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix car and a CP Rail train.  The car was southbound from the Town of Fort Macleod on the double lane of Highway #3 and went to use the left hand lane to pass a school bus and collided with an eastbound CP Rail train engine.  The car was pushed back from the train and into the adjacent ditch with significant damage to the car, but minimal damage to the train engine.

Two occupants of the Grand Prix were treated by Fort Macleod Emergency Services and taken to the Fort Macleod Hospital where they were treated for non life threatening injuries and released.

Traffic on Hwy 3 was closed in both directions for a period of about 2 hours in order for the RCMP and CP Rail Police to conduct the investigation.

The investigation revealed the lights and bells of the train crossing were functioning properly and that the collision is due to error of the driver of the car.  Alcohol was not a factor in this collision.

The driver of the Grand Prix has been charged under Section 42(2)(a) of the Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation for failing to stop properly at railway crossing when electrical / mechanical signs gives warning.