Woman, 78, struck by train in front of shocked onlookers

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WINNIPEG — A 78-year-old Winnipeg woman and her husband were walking to join family at a parade when she was fatally struck by a freight train at a southern Manitoba railway crossing Sunday.

The couple, identified by family and friends as Ida and Roger St. Vincent, appeared to be holding hands while walking toward the tracks on a sidewalk in La Broquerie, said Melissa Nykoluk, who witnessed the collision.

“It was absolutely horrific,” said Nykoluk, who was with her husband and four of her children, aged between six and 13. “It happened so fast. My husband and I just keeping asking why.”

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre said the victim’s husband was walking just ahead of her and made it safely across the tracks.

He said witnesses were yelling at the woman in a bid to get her attention.

“It’s a very tragic accident for the people who witnessed and the family that’s involved,” he said, noting there were many witnesses, including children.

Traumatized, Nykoluk and her family members were in tears during their drive home to Steinbach. Nykoluk said she was having flashbacks and thinking about the victim’s husband, who was in shock.

“I hope he’s OK, and I hope his family is OK,” she said, noting the man walked with a cane.

The collision happened at about 12:40 p.m. near the end of a parade celebrating Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in the francophone community, located about 60 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg.

RCMP are still investigating the circumstances of the couple’s attempt to cross the tracks. Manaigre said warning gates for vehicles, lights and bells were functioning at the time.

The sidewalk does not have gates, or arms.

CN Rail declined to comment. Nykoluk said she heard the train’s whistle and “screeching” of brakes prior to the collision on Principale Street.

“The poor person driving the train definitely saw it coming,” she said.

Ida St. Vincent, a retiree who lived in St. Boniface, spent many years volunteering for Festival du Voyageur and other organizations or events in the city.

In February, the St. Vincents were presented with the “capot honorifique,” a traditional voyageur-style coat which, for their volunteer work and embodying the “joie de vivre,” said executive director Breanne Lavallée-Heckert.

“It was a really special moment of honouring Ida for all that she has done,” said Lavallée-Heckert. “(Her death) is a big shock to our community.”

She described St. Vincent as a proud Métis woman who was a mémère, or grandmother, to her community, and was devoted to educating younger Métis people about their culture.

“She really left an intergenerational legacy,” said Lavallée-Heckert. “She was always smiling and really warm in her heart.”

Before retiring, St. Vincent operated a daycare out of her home, according to a profile of how she and her husband navigated his past health struggles.

The profile was published on the website of la Fédération des aînés de la francophonie manitobaine, an organization that advocates for francophones aged 55 and up.

Crisis response teams on Monday visited two schools in La Broquerie — one operated by Seine River School Division and the other by Division scolaire franco-manitobaine — to help make supports available to students and staff in the days and weeks ahead.

“We know this is going to be a challenging time for the community,” said Teresa Hampton, Seine River’s assistant superintendent of student services.

“We all know that for different people it takes a different amount of time to process things,” said DSFM assistant superintendent Daniel Preteau.

Nykoluk saw a woman and a girl “run through” shortly before the St. Vincents attempted to cross the tracks. She said it was the third train to pass by after her family arrived about two hours earlier.

She questioned the speed of the trains that go through the community, especially when a parade is being held nearby.

“In my opinion, it was way too (fast) to be moving through a town like that,” she said.

CN Rail would not comment on the speeds of trains.

RM of La Broquerie Reeve Ivan Normandeau said trains could be travelling 40-80 km/h when they go through the community, which is home to about 6,800 people. The parade does not cross the tracks, he added.

Firefighters were taking part in the event when they were called to the collision. They were also guiding residents and students to mental health supports, said Normandeau.

“The scene was very tragic, and I know it’s difficult for all of them,” he said.

This year, 25 people have been killed in railway crossing and trespassing incidents in Canada as of May 31, according to Operation Lifesaver.

At least two people were killed in Manitoba, including Sunday’s collision in La Broquerie.

Four people were killed in crossing or trespassing incidents in Manitoba in 2023, up from two in both 2022 and 2021.

“We grieve every life lost to track tragedies. Sadly, many of these tragedies are preventable,” said Chris Day, Operation Lifesaver’s interim national director.

While some circumstances of Sunday’s incident are not yet known, Day said incidents are a general reminder for people to be aware of their surroundings, heed warning signals and don’t attempt to cross before an oncoming train or trespass.

“When the arms are down and signals are on, a train is coming,” said Day.

Trains can travel at high speed, and it can take some time for them to stop, he noted.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is aware of Sunday’s collision and is working with other agencies to collect information, said spokesman Nic Defalco.

Transport Canada is following up with train operator CN Rail to verify compliance with rail safety regulations, said Transport Canada spokeswoman Sau Sau Liu.

» Winnipeg Free Press