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Ottawa bus and train collision kills six Ottawa bus and train collision kills six
(about 4 hours later)
At least six people have been killed in a collision between a passenger train and a bus in Canada's capital, Ottawa.At least six people have been killed in a collision between a passenger train and a bus in Canada's capital, Ottawa.
The front of the bus was ripped off in the crash, and some 30 people are in hospital, 11 with serious injuries.The front of the bus was ripped off in the crash, and some 30 people are in hospital, 11 with serious injuries.
The crash between the double-decker and a Via Rail train occurred at the height of the morning rush hour.The crash between the double-decker and a Via Rail train occurred at the height of the morning rush hour.
Gregory Mech, who was on the bus, told CBC News that the safety barrier was down and people on board were screaming for the bus to stop. Rebecca Guilbeault, who was on the bus with her young son, said people on board were screaming for the bus to stop.
"There were bodies on the train tracks," he said about the aftermath of the crash. "It was horrible. There's just no other way to explain it." "As I looked up the bus was coming into contact with the gate and the front of the bus, it like all impacted at once and everyone flew," Ms Guilbeault told the Associated Press.
The crash happened at about 08:48 (12:48 GMT) on the outskirts of the city, in the west end, which is a more rural area, surrounded by corn fields. "I've seen a few people dead, someone ripped in half," she said about the aftermath of the crash. "I just feel so bad. Honestly I am just a little shaken up right now."
The crash happened at about 08:48 (12:48 GMT) in the west end of the city, a more rural area surrounded by corn fields.
'Boom!'
Ottawa University student Rob Gencarelli, who was on board the train, told CTV: "All I felt was a bump and then I saw smoke, and then we were going off the tracks. I thought we were going to flip over."Ottawa University student Rob Gencarelli, who was on board the train, told CTV: "All I felt was a bump and then I saw smoke, and then we were going off the tracks. I thought we were going to flip over."
Eyewitnesses also reported seeing the bus driver going into a lowered barrier.Eyewitnesses also reported seeing the bus driver going into a lowered barrier.
"Boom! It went into the train like that. He just didn't stop,'' Pascal Lolgis was quoted by the Associated Press as saying."Boom! It went into the train like that. He just didn't stop,'' Pascal Lolgis was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.
Another witness, Mark Cogan, told AP that the bus just kept going.Another witness, Mark Cogan, told AP that the bus just kept going.
"The train is going through. And I was just looking around, just watching things happen. And noticed that in the bus lane, the double-decker bus," he said."The train is going through. And I was just looking around, just watching things happen. And noticed that in the bus lane, the double-decker bus," he said.
"I saw him, and he just kept going. He went through the guard rail and just hammered the train, and then it was just mayhem.""I saw him, and he just kept going. He went through the guard rail and just hammered the train, and then it was just mayhem."
The lead investigator for Canada's National Transportation Safety Board, Glen Pilon, said Via Rail crossings at streets have been a concern because they are carrying passengers instead of cargo.
The county has seen 257 accidents involving passenger trains colliding with vehicles at level crossings over the last decade, the safety board said on Wednesday.
Mr Pilon said a priority for investigators was getting the bus' black box recording to determine what happened in the moments before the crash.
"That will give us the speed and what was going on," he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper posted a message on Twitter saying he was "deeply saddened" and that his "thoughts and prayers are with the families of those involved".Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper posted a message on Twitter saying he was "deeply saddened" and that his "thoughts and prayers are with the families of those involved".
It is Canada's worst train accident since a train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded in a Quebec town in July, killing 47 people. It is Canada's worst rail accident since a train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded in a Quebec town in July, killing 47 people.
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