Burnaby RCMP say a young man is lucky to be alive after he was hit by a train Friday night.
At about 8: 15 p.m. on May 31 a group of teenagers were partying near the train tracks at Cariboo Road and Nichols Drive when a train came around the tracks and struck one of the teens.
According to Cpl. Dave Reid of the Burnaby RCMP, the teen - who was standing on the tracks facing west towards Barnet Marine Park at the time he was hit - told police he didn't hear the train, or any whistles before it struck him in the head.
"He had been drinking quite heavily and also snorting ecstasy, so I don't think he was fully aware," he said.
When police arrived on scene, the boy was still conscious and was able to recount what happened. He was then taken to Royal Columbian Hospital to be treated for head injuries, Reid said.
"He had a pretty good gash on his forehead and they weren't sure whether or not he could have had a concussion as well," he said.
Reid added the officers, emergency services and the train conductor were all shocked the boy survived the accident. Some of the luck might have come from the train itself, which wasn't carrying a full load when it struck the young man.
"(The conductor) was able to stop (the train)," he said.
RCMP seized some small amounts of ecstasy and marijuana from the youths, but no charges will be laid, Reid said. [email protected]
