EDMONTON – A & B Rail Services Ltd has released a statement regarding the three workers struck and injured by a CN freight train Wednesday morning.
The three men were clearing snow and ice from rail switches along the tracks at a railroad crossing at Meridian Street and Hayter Road.
The men were taken to hospitals in Edmonton by ambulance. Two of the employees, aged 20 and 32, were reported to be in critical condition. The other injured man is 28-years-old.
A close friend of one of the critically injured workers spoke to Global News Thursday. While he declined to speak on camera, he said his friend has suffered traumatic injuries and family and friends are at his bedside.
Edmonton Police Staff Sgt. Rob Mills said the men were using snow blowers and wearing sound attenuators. They didn't hear the approaching train, which sounded its horn and hit the brakes as it slid towards them along the icy tracks.
"The train came along and saw them close to the track and tried to do some emergency braking, but unfortunately struck the three employees," Mills said.
"All three were taken to hospital."
Police said the eastbound train was going about 40 km/h.
The men are employed by A & B Rail Services Ltd based in Sherwood Park and were working under contract to CN.
Thursday afternoon, A & B Rail Services Ltd released a written statement about the incident.
“This is the first serious incident we have ever been involved with and [we] were focused on our employees in this most difficult time of year,” said Paul Brum, President of A & B Rail Services Ltd, in a written response.
“We are 100 per cent committed to all of our employees and we will support these three workers throughout their recovery. Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones,” he added.
The statement also says two of the workers remain in stable condition with serious injuries, and the third employee was expected to be released later Thursday.
The collision is being investigated by CN, Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Department – since A & B Rail Services is provincially regulated - and federal safety regulators.
OHS has also issued a stop work order for A & B Rail Services Ltd for all track cleaning and maintenance work involving noise generating equipment.
A spokesperson for OHS confirms Thursday that the 32-year-old and 28-year-old are both in stable condition. The 20-year-old remains in critical but stable condition.
Patrick Waldron, a CN Rail spokesman, said the company's probe will include a review of its operating procedures, including safety.
"Obviously there are procedures in place for any workers, whether they are contract or regular workers, when they are out in the field," Waldron said from Chicago.
"What happened this morning is under investigation so we can find out all of the answers."
On Thursday, Emily Hamer, Regional Manager for CN’s Public and Government Affairs offered limited comment, saying, “All rail workers, contractors and CN employees have safety policies and procedures when working on or near the track.”
“The investigation into the incident will examine all the circumstances to determine exactly what happened. And CN is cooperating with the investigative agencies,” she added.
With files from the Canadian Press, Edmonton Journal
You can read A & B Rail Service Ltd's full statement here:
A B Rail December 27 Media Communication
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2012.