Leduc RCMP are investigating a fatal collision between a minivan and a train Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on 50 Avenue, between 46 and 47 Streets – near Telford Lake.
RCMP said an 84-year-old man had died in the crash.
Police said a southbound train with a locomotive and two rail cars was carrying track materials when the van was hit, it’s also believed crossing lights were working at the time of the collision.
“How the vehicle ended up on the track in front of the train with the barriers down is a question we still want to look into,” Insp. Wally Lynds with Leduc RCMP told CTV News.
According to police, there was no sign of damage to the barriers.
Investigators said the intersection where the collision took place is not considered a problem area, but residents tell a different story.
Some residents said the area has been called ‘confusion corner’ for some time, for a variety of reasons.
City officials said a growing population is creating problems at the crossing.
“The biggest thing is the congestion and the amount of traffic that’s trying to get through that intersection,” Kevin Cole with the City of Leduc said.
The city said a $2.5 million plan to re-design and widen the intersection is in the works – officials said it would make the northbound lane on 46 Street two lanes of free-flowing traffic, with double turning lanes.
“The rest of the intersection is pretty much the same except we’ll have a double left turn northbound as well,” Cole said.
Construction on the change is expected to start in early 2015, and it’s expected to be complete by the fall.
With files from Amanda Anderson
