
Accident impliquant un autobus scolaire et un train - Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC
Posted by:
denben
N 45° 23.124 W 074° 00.669
18T E 577412 N 5026240
Commémoration d'un accident impliquant un autobus scolaire et un train qui a fait 20 victimes en 1966. La plaque commémorative est érigée près de la maison Valois au parc Valois de Vaudreuil-Dorion à environ 800 mètres du lieu de l'accident.
Waymark Code: WMCG31
Location: Québec, Canada
Date Posted: 09/03/2011
Views: 50
"On the evening of October 7th, at about 7:35 p.m., approximately 40 students were traveling by school bus to a dance, when the bus reached a level crossing. The gates lowered, preventing the school bus from crossing and allowing an eastbound train to continue its route. After the train had passed, the gates rose, allowing the school bus to cross. As the bus began to drive over the level crossing, a second train heading west, without warning, struck the bus and split it in half, dragging one half with it for over 2000 feet (600 m). The other half of the bus was found in a ditch approximately 300 feet from the crossing. Of the 41 people aboard, 19 were killed instantly, including the bus driver. Funerals for the deceased occurred on October 11, 1966 at the Cité-des-Jeunes high school, where the students had gone to school.
After years of investigation the coroner released a statement declaring accidental death with no criminality, and the investigation was closed soon thereafter. The coroner's report concluded the crossing gates were not defective and that eyewitness testimony proved that two or more students lifted the gates despite the possibility of another oncoming train.
After receiving numerous complaints, requests to reopen the investigation and public demonstrations of disagreement by the citizens of the city of Dorion, the level crossing was replaced by a double underpass by direction of Paul Gérin-Lajoie during November, 1972."
Source: Wikipedia (
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The posted coordinates are those of the railway disaster site.
The memorial coordinates are N 45° 23.474 W 074° 01.054