Office of the Chief Coroner spokesperson Stephanie Rae confirmed that a coroner’s investigation of the latest incident is ongoing.
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“It is still very early in the investigation for the coroner to make any determinations,” Rae stated in an April 26 email. “Coroner’s reports can take months to finalize and will take into account other investigations such as police and Ministry of Transportation investigations.”
Rae said an autopsy report needs to be finalized and provided to the coroner. Toxicology and any other required tests still need to be completed.
Halton Police spokesperson Const. Jeff Dillon said the service’s Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating.
“However, the incident is not deemed suspicious. Factors that led to the pedestrian’s death have been investigated and no charges are anticipated to be laid,” Dillon said, on April 25. “Due to the nature of the incident we are unable to provide any further information.”
Hugo Fontaine of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said the federal agency is not currently investigating the Burlington death.
Fontaine said the incident falls under provincial jurisdiction.
“Metrolinx, who oversees the GO Transit operations, is provincially regulated and the accident occurred on a Metrolinx-owned track, therefore, it does not fall under the TSB’s jurisdiction,” Fontaine said.
He said Ontario’s provincially regulated rail network includes 12 railways, including Metrolinx, governed by three provincial acts, including the Shortline Railways Act, which outlines safety requirements by reference to the federal Railway Safety Act.
“Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation is responsible for the oversight of the provincially regulated railway system,” Fontaine said.
He said provincial and territorial governments can ask the TSB to investigate incidents.
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As of Friday, April 26, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation had not asked the federal agency to investigate the most recent Burlington railway death. Fontaine said the TSB was notified of the incident.
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation did not answer questions about its investigation.
“The circumstances of the incident have been determined by Halton Police and the Coroner,” ministry spokesperson Dakota Brasier stated in an April 25 email.
Catherine Henry, manager of communications and outreach for Operation Lifesaver — an organization funded by the Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada that educates Canadians about hazards surrounding rail property and trains — said they cannot comment on specific incidents.
“Trespassing incidents are trending above the 5-year average,” Henry said. “We remind everyone that rail safety is a shared responsibility. Trespassing on railway property is not only dangerous but illegal.”
Henry said part of Operation Lifesaver’s mission is encouraging people to talk about mental health and “bring it out of the shadows.”
is a reporter with Metroland, primarily covering Burlington. He previously covered the community of Dundas for 25 years. Reach him at ccampbell@torstar.ca.
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