Posted on 05/09/2008 8:04:35 AM PDT by fanfan
A Via Rail train, carrying more than 260 passengers to Toronto, has been quarantined in Foleyet, Ont. after one person died and several people fell ill.
"Currently there are a few people who are seriously ill on the train and one person is being airlifted right now," OPP Sgt. Laura Nichols told CTV.ca from the North Bay Communications Centre.
The train was quarantined at the train depot in Foleyet, a community near Sudbury, Ont., after officials notified police that someone was feeling ill. More than 260 people were aboard the train when it stopped in Foleyet.
Police believe there are a total of four to five people who are ill on the train, experiencing flu-like symptoms.
"As far as determining what it is, we're not there yet," Nichols said.
Via Rail spokesperson Catherine Kaloutsky told CTV News she can confirm that one person has died, but they are waiting for more details from the scene.
The train had left from Jasper and was bound for Toronto, Nichols said.
CN Rail spokesperson Frank Binder confirmed to CTV.ca that the train has come to a stop in Foleyet.
"Our crews have come to a complete stop at that location and they are dealing with emergency personnel there."
With more to come...
One person is dead and 10 others have been taken to hospital after illness broke out aboard a Toronto-bound VIA train in northern Ontario this morning.
The train, carrying 264 passengers, was stopped at Foleyet, a small town northwest of Sudbury at about 8:35 a.m. after CN Rail was informed that a woman had taken ill and had stopped breathing.
Ten other people were taken to hospital in Timmins with flu-like symptoms, said Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Laura Nichols.
The woman who died was in her 60s, OPP said. Her name was not immediately released.
All the people who became ill boarded the same two cars in Jasper, Alta.
The train, which was due to arrive in Toronto at 8 p.m. today, started its journey in Vancouver.
Police are investigating to see if there is “any criminal element” to the situation, Nichols said.
The remaining passengers have been quarantined aboard the train.
Emergency personnel with full protective gear are going car to car to examine them, assisted by a doctor who was aboard the train.
Foleyet resident Judy Bromley, who can see the train from the front window of her home, said she first noticed it had stopped around 9:30 a.m.
Bromley said a coroner's van had been on the scene, and that three ambulances and three to four police cars remained outside the station late in the morning.
“They're not saying much until they know what's going on,” she said.
Word about the quarantined train is spreading throughout the small town, she added.
Bromley also said a large orange helicopter has landed in the baseball field near the tracks.
Ontario's Ministry of Health has sent two air ambulances with critical care paramedics to the scene from their home base in Sudbury, said ministry spokesperson Laurel Ostfield.
“They're more highly trained than regular ambulance crews,” she added, noting the ministry is keeping a close watch on the situation and is working with the provincial agency Emergency Management Ontario.
With files from Rob Ferguson
Call us
Are you on the train or do you know someone who is? Call The Star at 1-800-268-9756.
For first class passengers?
Thanks! Of course that could be why the authorities stopped the train there. No cell service. No way pics of guys in moonsuits scaring the snot outta the passengers can make it out onto the news.
I can’t believe it took 36 posts to get that one in.
We’re slipping folks!
bttt
It’s on Drudge.
Trying to find out; Vancouver to Toronto is a 4500 mile trip but I can’t find out how far the passengers shared the train or the time together - sure would help in selecting possible vectors and comparing that to response (symptoms) time to rule out many possibilities.
Oh, yeah...Cap'n Trips...
Heck with it. I'm headed to my bunker.
Yes, and for a sleeper car perhaps, I didn’t think about that ‘cause I’ve never taken a sleeper car!
Thanks!
I found this,
Death On Toronto-Bound Via Rail Train
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_22540.aspx
Yes, that is the one Drudge has linked to.
Thanks for the link! OPP? Is that the local police?
For Amtrak there is 1 porter for each car. Whether they care for more than one car...I don’t know.
each SLEEPER car.
OPP are the Ontario Provincial Police.
VirginiaMom
Link.
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