Ottawa police say one person was pronounced dead at the scene of a collision between a train and a vehicle near Richmond on Wednesday afternoon.
An OPS spokesperson confirmed to Global News that police were called about a “serious collision” at Barnsdale Road and Eagleson Road at approximately 12:20 p.m.
OPS said in an update shortly before 2 p.m. that one person was declared dead at the scene. No other injuries have yet been reported.
A Via Rail spokesperson confirmed to Global News that a train from its fleet bound for Toronto was involved in the collision at 12:16 p.m.
There were 120 passengers on board the train at the time of the collision, but the spokesperson said no Via Rail employees or passengers were injured.
The schedule for Via train No. 40, as well as possibly trains No. 55 and No. 42, is expected to be delayed up to three hours as a result of the collision.
“We are focusing our efforts on bringing customers currently en route to their final destinations as quickly and as safely as possible,” the spokesperson said in an email.
The City of Ottawa said in an update that all passengers have been offered transportation to the Nepean Sportsplex on Woodroffe Avenue, where they can arrange for family members to pick them up or wait for alternate travel arrangements from Via Rail.
Traffic is closed in both directions on Barnsdale Road from Eagleson Road to Twin Elm Road as well as on Eagleson between Ottawa Street to Perth Street.
Police later said the collision also caused the railroad crossing gates at McBean and Ottawa streets to malfunction.
Residents are asked to avoid the areas mentioned above.
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