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One person dead in a train-truck crash near Richmond

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OTTAWA -

Ottawa police and the Transportation Safety Board are now investigating a fatal collision involving a VIA Rail train in the Richmond area.

The 28-year-old driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene following the collision Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency crews responded to a call for a collision at Barnsdale Road and Eagleson Road at approximately 12:20 p.m.

Ottawa Paramedics tell CTV News Ottawa one person was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Police will only the 28-year-old driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene. The Ottawa Police Service Collision Investigations Unit is leading the investigation. 

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, VIA Rail says train #53 travelling from Ottawa to Toronto was involved in a "rail crossing collision at 12:16 p.m. on the Smiths Falls subdivision near Richmond."

VIA Rail says 120 passengers were on board the train. No passengers or VIA Rail employees were injured.

"This incident will impact the schedule of train #40 and possibly trains #55 and #42 as we expect a delay of approximately three hours," said VIA Rail. "We are focusing our efforts on bringing customers currently en route to their final destinations as quickly and as safely as possible."

VIA Rail train #53 left Ottawa at 11:45 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Toronto at 4:33 p.m.

Just after 6 p.m. VIA Rail said alternative transportation was provided to all passengers on train #53. Three buses arrived at the tracks to transport passengers.

Stranded for most of the day, Emerson Frenette and Jordyn Gattie waited patiently to get home to Oshawa.

"Just trying to get home as quick as we can," said Frenette, a university student.

The two left Ottawa at 11:45 a.m. to see family for the long week. Instead, the VIA Train scheduled to arrive in Toronto at 4:33 p.m. came to a halt after being involved in the collision.

"It’s been a day," said Frenette.

Just after 6 p.m. all 120 passengers were off the train and loaded on to buses. Some taken to the Nepean Sportsplex, others directly to Toronto.

"We’re glad to be off," said Margaret Thompson, who was trying to get back home to Toronto after visiting friends in Ottawa. After the day’s events, Thompson and her two kids are staying an extra night in the city before heading to their final destination of Toronto.

"These guys did amazing all things considered," she said about her kids. 

The Transportation Safety Board announced early Wednesday evening it was launching an investigation into the fatal collision.

"The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following an accident involving a VIA Rail passenger train and a commercial road vehicle in Richmond, Ontario," said a statement from the TSB.

"The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence."

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