Source: By CHRIS KITCHING, QMI Agency
Published: June 14th 2010
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WINNIPEG -- A disastrous situation was avoided when a garbage truck crashed into the side of a freight train hauling hazardous materials south of Winnipeg on Monday.

Officials say it was a fortunate outcome because the truck driver, a 43-year-old Oakbank man, escaped with non-life threatening injuries and the CP Rail train’s hazardous cargo — including sulphur and sulphuric acid — didn’t leak, although a dozen empty rail cars derailed and at least 4,000 litres of diesel fuel spilled from a locomotive’s ruptured fuel tank.

It appears the driver wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and, ironically, that might have spared him from serious injury or death, said St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP Cpl. Paul Manaigre.

“He may have been slightly thrown from the vehicle through the windshield, which may have saved his life,” he said. “This could have been much worse.”

The collision occurred at an uncontrolled crossing on Leclaire Road, about three kilometres east of Provincial Road 200 (St. Mary’s Road), at 7 a.m. The crossing is 15 kilometres south of Winnipeg in the Rural Municipality of Ritchot.

The front-loading garbage truck, which was eastbound, belongs to Winnipeg company Johnson Waste Management.

Company resident Jack Johnson said the driver suffered a broken arm but was being examined to find out whether he had any additional injuries.

Johnson said he’s thankful and relieved the man survived. He said the man was heading to a landfill near the rail crossing.

Manaigre said it appears the man noticed the southbound train, travelling 40 km/h, at the last second and veered to the right.

The truck struck the second of two locomotives, spun into the ditch and rolled onto its side, he said.

Manaigre said officers haven’t interviewed the driver but the preliminary investigation suggests the man didn’t see the train on his left, for whatever reason.

RCMP will look into things such as driver inattention and whether the man’s vision was obstructed by the sun as it was low on the horizon.

A house nearby was evacuated as a precaution.

CP Rail spokesman Jeff Johnson said 26 of the train’s 86 cars were empty.

Johnson said the diesel spill doesn’t pose any environmental or public safety concerns.

He said the collision serves as a cautionary tale and reminder to motorists and pedestrians to be alert at rail crossings.