Man sleeping near tracks struck by Valley Line LRT, in critical condition: police
Posted April 5, 2023 1:39 pm.
Last Updated April 5, 2023 8:50 pm.
Police say a 42-year-old man suffered life-threatening head injuries after being struck by the Valley Line LRT in south Edmonton on Sunday.
Police say the man was sleeping near the tracks. He remains in hospital in critical condition.
The Edmonton Police Service says the collision occurred near Holyrood station – at 85 Street and 93 Avenue – shortly after 6 a.m.
The train was undergoing testing and not carrying passengers.
EPS are investigating after a 42-year-old man was sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a collision with an LRT car at 85st & 93rd ave April 2nd.
Police say the pedestrian was sleeping near the tracks. pic.twitter.com/glU6zJYtZR
— Darce Vader (@darcyropchan) April 5, 2023
EMS responded and took the man to hospital. Police say they were notified after 8 a.m.
The EPS major collision investigations section is investigating.
The Valley Line LRT is a couple of years behind schedule; the opening has already been delayed several times.
Among the issues were a series of cracked pillars, and more recently drivers have been colliding with trains after illegally turning right on a red light.
The president of the local transit union says these are the consequences of the city entering into a public-private partnership (P3).
“The reason for that is, they have to bid it so tight to chest, they have almost no room to turn a profit,” said Steve Bradshaw. “And therefore they end up cutting corners. We don’t see that getting any better. That rail line crosses that street three times before it gets out of Bonnie Doon.
“It’s a mess. It’s poorly designed, poorly constructed.”
CityNews reached out to TransEd, which operates the Valley Line LRT, but did not immediately hear back.
—With files from Darcy Ropchan
