Transport carrying gasoline runs into train

NORTH BAY - A transport hit a train early Tuesday morning (5:15 a.m.) at the railway crossing on the bypass just North of Seymour Street in North Bay. 

The Union, Ontario based transport ran into the Ontario Northland train causing significant damage to the front end of the transport which was carrying a loaded fuel tanker.  Despite the collision, none of the rail cars came off the tracks.  

Police say the accident closed the highway at the rail crossing for just over an hour as the highway was re-opened around 6:45 a.m. 

The driver, who was not injured, has been charged with disobey railway crossing signal and fail to stop, along with a careless driving charge. 

No other injuries were reported. 

Police estimate the train, which had 46 rail cars and three engine cars, was moving 14 mph at the time of the collision.

Ontario Provincial Police issued the following news release:

The highway was closed for just over an hour and a half as officers, emergency personnel and vehicle removal teams dealt with the scene.  

The tractor trailer, with an A and B train were fully loaded with gasoline.  

While the tractor portion of the unit was heavily damaged, the trailers were not damaged and the load remained intact.  

The train was 46 rail cars in length as well as 3 engine cars.  

The impact location was 2 cars in, on one of the engine units.  

While the engine car suffered damaged, the train did not derail.

As a result of the collision, Mark Dunn 45 yrs. from Marlbank Ontario was charged with Failing to Stop at a Railway Crossing contrary to section 163.1 of the Highway Traffic Act, Careless Driving contrary to section 130 of the Highway Traffic Act as well as Failing to Properly maintain his Log Book.  

The company he was working for, J. Verbruggen Trucking Ltd from Napanee, ON has also been charged for allowing Dunn to operate their vehicle without properly maintaining his log book.

Members of the North Bay Police Service and the Ontario Northland assisted during the scene investigation.

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