31-year-old woman dies after being hit by train at 'unofficial' crossing near Mile End

An unlawful pedestrian crossing was made via a gap within the fence that blocks off the tracks. (Cosmo Santamaria)

A 31-year-old lady has died in a rail collision on the practice tracks operating alongside the north finish of Mile Finish on Thursday afternoon, Montreal police say.

A 911 name got here in at 12:30 p.m., mentioned police spokeswoman Caroline Chevrefils. 

The girl was discovered, very significantly injured, close to the tracks which might be simply north of the intersection of Van Horne Ave. and St. Laurent Blvd., Chevrefils mentioned.

Police solely confirmed the girl's demise at 5:50 p.m. and later confirmed she had been hit by a practice, saying she was at an unofficial crossing the place the general public is just not permitted to be on the tracks.

There aren't any official crossings in that space, however individuals incessantly do cross that stretch of tracks as a shortcut, with holes usually reduce into the chain-link fence.

The tracks, which separate Mile Finish from Petite-Patrie, are a well-liked spot for pedestrians as they run alongside a greenspace and pathway, on the north aspect of the tracks, busy year-round with runners, skiers and cyclists.

Officers investigating the scene later informed media the girl might have crossed just a little additional east than first believed, for the reason that collision occurred nearer to St. Denis St., about 500 metres from St. Laurent.

There is a gap within the fence there that's particularly well-used by individuals attempting to get from the Plateau and Mile Finish to Rosemont metro, which is simply above the tracks.

Police are nonetheless attempting to find out whether or not it was an unintended collision and, if that's the case, what led to it, Chevrefils mentioned.

The railway is the property of CP Rail, so police are working with the railway to evaluate digicam footage and attempt to study extra.

Correction:

An earlier model of this story mentioned the tracks are the property of CN Rail. The truth is, they're the property of CP Rail. CTV regrets the error.

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  The practice tracks north of Mile Finish run alongside an off-the-cuff pathway well-liked with joggers and skiiers (Picture: Google Road View)