Pembina Valley RCMP recently responded to two different collisions near Winkler that involved two different vehicles colliding into the same train within two hours of each other.
On December 8, 2020, at approximately 2:05pm, Pembina Valley RCMP responded to a collision involving a vehicle and a train at a location east of Winkler in the RM of Stanley.
Police say that a vehicle, going north on Road 18 West, collided with a westbound train which caused it to roll several times. The driver, a 53-year-old male from Morden, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and was released later the same day. Police noted that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision.
Two hours later, at approximately 4:05pm, Pembina Valley RCMP responded to second vehicle versus train collision at an intersection on Road 23 West, west of Winkler, in the Rural Municipality of Stanley.
RCMP report that in this incident, a vehicle traveling north on Road 23 West stopped at the stop sign, proceeded when it was unsafe to do so, and collided with a westbound train. Officers noted that this was the same train involved in the first collision. The vehicle was then pushed into the ditch, and the driver, a 19-year-old female from Morden, was treated and released at the scene.
“Many railroad tracks in Manitoba go through rural areas and cross roads at uncontrolled intersections,” said Corporal Julie Courchaine of the Manitoba RCMP. “Drivers must be cautious and aware of their surroundings. When a train is coming, vehicles should stop at least four and a half metres away from the rails and wait until the train is completely clear before proceeding. Please be vigilant and drive safe.”
The Transportation Safety Board was notified of the incident. Pembina Valley RCMP along with the Canadian Pacific Railway Police continue to investigate.
