Trespassing incidents and fatalities up in October 2019—again

For the third month in a row, the number of Canadians killed while trespassing on railway tracks or property was up compared to the year before.

In October 2019, three people lost their lives in trespassing incidents, and another three people were killed in crossing incidents.

“Whether deaths or injuries occur as a result of trespassing on railway property or collisions at railway crossings, each and every one of these tragedies could be prevented,” says Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada. "Our goal is to drive home the message that unsafe behaviours around tracks and trains—like taking a shortcut across the tracks, or going around a lowered gate at a rail crossing to try to beat a train—can have devastating consequences.”

Please help us spread the rail safety message. For a refresher, check out these rail-safety resources on our website. It could save your life, or the life of someone you love.