A Surrey man was hospitalized after suffering “several non-life-threatening injuries” as a result of being struck by a “slow-moving freight train” near White Rock Sunday afternoon.
The incident, which happened at approximately 1 p.m. near the Washington Avenue Grill (15782 Marine Dr.) near Semiahmoo First Nation land, occurred as a 58-year-old man was attempting to get his two unleashed dogs off the track, according to RCMP.
“The male had observed the train approaching and his two unleashed dogs with him had run onto the Railway right of way,” Surrey RCMP said in a news release.
“The male had been attempting to get his dogs off of the tracks, when he was struck by the train at low speed as it attempted to stop.”
A victim was transported to hospital in “serious condition,” BC Emergency Health Services told Peace Arch News Sunday afternoon. Police noted in the release that the man was communicating with emergency responders as he was tended to and sent to hospital.
The dogs were uninjured, according to police.
Rodney Gibson, who was in the area at the time, said he “heard the horn then a scream from the parking lot.”
“From witnesses on the beach, sounds like someone was chasing a dog before any whistle had warned,” Gibson tweeted.
White Rock resident Evan Monk was in Semiahmoo Park shortly after the incident, which occurred as Semiahmoo Days and the White Rock Sea Festival were being held along the waterfront.
Monk said that after the incident, an announcement was made over the speakers at the event, explaining the commotion.
“They said there was a small incident on the track. The gentleman is fine and there’s nothing to worry about,” Monk told PAN.
The train came to a complete stop for about two hours after the incident.
RCMP are requesting that anyone who witnessed the incident, but not yet spoken to police, call 604-599-0502, referencing file number 2019-117864.
Yikes. Someone hit by a train in pic.twitter.com/3C0JjiPKdd
— Vancouver Road Warrior (@RodneyGibson604) August 4, 2019
Yikes someone hit by train in #WhiteRock. Heard the horn then a scream from the parking lot.
— Vancouver Road Warrior (@RodneyGibson604) August 4, 2019
From witnesses on the beach, sounds like someone was chasing a dog before any whistle had warned.
They are not under the train, so hopefully they're ok. pic.twitter.com/nwUPomSwzD
I heard it was a group on the track, whistle blew many times. Man clipped by the train.
— James Taylor (@j_e_taylor) August 4, 2019
Person hit by train in White Rock - East Beach pic.twitter.com/XSFderY97j
— James Taylor (@j_e_taylor) August 4, 2019
