A passenger from the fatal crash between an Ottawa city bus and Via Rail train returned to the crash site Thursday.
Standing with the train tracks behind him, Chad Mariage recounted the events of Wednesday morning, remarking at how lucky he was to have survived the crash unscathed.
“Had we been five seconds, 10 seconds, earlier we would have been completely on the track and I might not be here today to speak to you.”
Mariage, who was sitting on the second level of OC Transpo bus 76, near the back, said the day started out like any other morning.
“We picked up the majority of the passengers here at the Fallowfield station, and made our way to the crossing,” he said.
Mariage said that he noticed the train – and noticed the bus wasn’t slowing down.
“I didn’t compute that we were going to hit the train until people started reacting. And it was at that point that I realized that it was actually going to happen, that we were going to hit the train.”
Mariage said he felt the bus brake slightly, and no more than a second later, the bus and train collided.
“After the impact, it was chaotic.”
Mariage and fellow passengers helped a man who was pinned under the doors of the bus. He credited the emergency crews for responding so quickly.
“They took control of the scene, triaged patients. It was a whirlwind of activity – but it would have been much worse had their reaction not have been as quick.”
Mariage said despite the horrific crash, he has complete faith in the Ottawa transit drivers and will continue to use public transit.
“It was an accident. Accidents happen,” he said.
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