The mayor of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville is urging the authorities to take drastic measures to secure the crossing where an 84-year-old woman died last Friday after being hit by a train.
• Also read: Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville: A woman dies in a collision between a car and a train
“We are concerned. It worries us a lot, says Ludovic Grisé Farand, the mayor of this Monteregian municipality. We really want to do our best to improve security. »
Photo courtesy of Ludovic Grisé Farand
Mayor Ludovic Grisé Farand wants measures to prevent these accidents.
The intersection of Boulevard Seigneurial Ouest and the railway line at Route 116 in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville was the scene of a violent drama last Friday.
The vehicle in which Gisèle Lachapelle, 84, was sitting was hit by an Exo commuter train around 6 p.m. His death was later pronounced in a hospital.
An 85-year-old man who was also on board was able to free himself from the car before the violent collision.
The case is considered coincidental by the Longueuil police.
It is not the first time that an accident has occurred at this point.
A 72-year-old pedestrian was fatally hit there in December 2021. At the beginning of the year, a vehicle was rammed, but the occupants were able to get out in time.
New measures
Several measures were taken over time to prevent further tragedies: adding bollards, repairing the damaged roadway, prioritizing snow removal at the intersection.
A new traffic control panel could also be installed.
The municipality, which has met with the Ministry of Transport on several occasions on the subject, also hopes to lower the speed limit from 90 to 70 km/h.
There has even been discussion of introducing a viaduct or elevated pedestrian crossing. But “they gave us the signal that it wasn’t going to work,” the mayor complains.
The Ministry wanted to remind you that certain traffic lights have been adjusted, in particular to increase the time for pedestrian crossings.
“We are working with our partners as part of the Route 116 Axis Committee to take action aimed at improving the safety of all road users,” he told us.
revision
The Canadian National, owner of the railroad, mentioned in a statement to the Journal that “a systematic review of response” is being conducted after collisions.
“We can confirm that the level crossing where the incident occurred is equipped with all safety devices, lights, bells and arms, in addition to being synchronized with the traffic light,” a spokesman said.
For its part, Exo says it is cooperating with the police on this case.
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