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Trucker mows down Burnaby rail crossing signal, takes off before police arrive

The CN Police Service and BC Highway Patrol are looking for witnesses after a truck driver reportedly sheared a rail crossing signal at the intersection of Cariboo and Government roads Monday.
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A BC Highway Patrol officer investigates a damaged railway crossing signal at the intersection of Government and Cariboo roads in Burnaby Monday.

Police are investigating after a truck reportedly sheared a Burnaby rail crossing signal and then took off before officers arrived.

On Monday at about 12:10 p.m., a member of the public attended the BC Highway Patrol office in Burnaby to report there was a truck stuck on the railway crossing at Cariboo and Government roads. 

“The truck was gone prior to police arriving on scene,” stated Highway Patrol spokesperson Const. Mike Moore. “There was significant damage to one of the crossing arms and it was down across the train track.”

Moore said the CN Police Service is investigating the incident with help from BC Highway Patrol, which is in the process of obtaining and reviewing CCTV footage from businesses in the area.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call 604-526-9744. Refer to file number DF2023-115.

“We would like to take the opportunity to remind motorists to be vigilant at railway crossings, obey any posted signage and drive with care,” Moore said.

The signal standard has been replaced.

A CN worker at the scene told the NOW the intersection at Government and Cariboo is too tight for trucks to make the right-hand turn off Government onto Cariboo when left-turning vehicles are waiting at the second red light on Cariboo across the railway tracks.

The worker said it’s not unusual for impatient truckers to attempted the turn and damage crossing infrastructure in the process.

The NOW has reached out to CN Police for more information and is waiting to hear back. 

📣 SOUND OFF: Have you seen truck drivers trying and failing to make tight turns in the city? Send us a letter.

Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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