Pedestrian hit and killed by VIA Rail train in Lakeshore

One person is dead after being struck by a Toronto-bound VIA Rail train in the small southwestern Ontario community of Puce. (Tyler Pidlubny/CBC - image credit)
One person is dead after being struck by a Toronto-bound VIA Rail train in the small southwestern Ontario community of Puce. (Tyler Pidlubny/CBC - image credit)

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say a pedestrian was struck and killed by a VIA Rail train Wednesday morning in the Municipality of Lakeshore.

It happened around 6 a.m. near Old Tecumseh Road in the town of Puce.

The train was bound for Toronto when it hit what VIA Rail called in a statement a "trespasser."

"Our thoughts, of course, are with those affected by this incident," the transportation company sent in an email.

A fatal single-vehicle collision has left one person dead in St. Thomas, Ont.
A fatal single-vehicle collision has left one person dead in St. Thomas, Ont.

Police say the collision happened around 6 a.m. on Wednesday at Old Tecumseh Road and Puce Road. (CBC)

VIA said no passengers or on-train service crew were injured during the incident.

"VIA Rail acknowledges that this tragic situation had an impact on the travel plans of our customers and we apologize for the inconvenience."

Lakeshore OPP, Via Rail Police and the Office of the Chief Coroner continue to investigate.

Police are asking anyone who may have information related to the case to contact them — and can do so anonymously.