Two people are dead after the car they were in was struck by a train near Melbourne.
OPP say the grey Ford car was heading south on Melbourne Rd. just after 10:30am Monday when it did not stop at a level crossing. An eastbound VIA Rail train with 88 passengers on board hit the car, sending it into the ditch where it came to rest approximately 100m from the initial impact site.
Both people in the car, the 39-year-old female driver and the 37-year-old female passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Both are from Strathroy-Caradoc. Their names are not being released until next-of-kin have been notified.
One passenger on the train suffered minor injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene.
Police say the rail crossing is controlled by lights but does not have crossing arms. OPP Sgt. Dave Rektor says it isn't clear whether the car was trying to beat the train.
"I don't know the circumstances in this situation yet, but all too often we see people trying to run the train, trying to beat it. That usually ends in consequences that are fatal," says Rektor.
He is reminding motorists of the importance of stopping for trains.
"Trains are huge. When a train hits a car it's the equivalent of a person stepping on a pop can. That's the kind of catastrophic damage that happens," says Rektor. "People need to be aware that a train cannot stop for a car that is not stopping at the intersection."
Melbourne Rd. between Parkhouse Dr. and Glendon Dr. will be closed for several hours as police continue to investigate.
