C-Train driver saw girl, applied brake before fatal incident, police say

A young girlhas died after being hit by a C-Train on Monday morning, according to Calgary police.

The six-year-old was rushed to the Alberta Children's Hospital in life-threatening condition after the incident in the city's southwest at 162 Avenue by Shawville Way.

She was walking eastbound on the north side of the train tracks at the time, according to police.

According to acting Sgt. Chris Agren thegirl was crossing the tracks at 8:30 a.m. when the crossing arms began to flash and lower.

"She panicked," Agren said. "Unfortunately she then doubled back the way she was originally walking from and wasn't able to get out of the way of the train in time."

The accident occurred just hours before another person, a man, died after being hit by a C-Train at Erltonstation.

Driver tried to brake

Agrensaid the driver saw the girl and tried to brake. He said the train hit the girl and pushed her "aside across the street."

"We did provide a police escort through rush hour traffic in order to get her to the hospital in time," he said. "But unfortunately it didn't work out."

The traffic section has been called to investigate.

Police initially said the girl's age was 10, then revised it to seven and later to six. They have not identified her publicly.

C-Trainservice between the Somerset and Fish Creek stations was disrupted on Monday morning but later resumed.

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With files from Mike Symington