Fatal train collision during La Broquerie parade

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This article was published 27/06/2024 (319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The community of La Broquerie came together at a special mass on Monday to offer comfort to the widower and other family of a woman who died after being struck by a train during the Saint-Jean Baptiste parade the day before.

The parade had turned around and was making its way back down Rue Principale at 12:40 p.m. Sunday when Ida St. Vincent, 78, was struck by the train as she was trying to cross the tracks on the sidewalk with her husband. He was unhurt, but St. Vincent was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was not the first train that crossed during the parade. The crossing arms were down across the road, the lights and bells working, and the CN train was blowing its whistle at the time of the accident.

The parade did not cross the tracks, but many who came to see the parade would park on the other side and cross on foot. Steinbach RCMP and CN Police are investigating.

Families in attendance witnessed what happened. La Broquerie firefighters who minutes earlier were taking part in the parade, many with children in their vehicles, were forced to rush into action.

Jean-Claude (JC) Normandeau is taking over as fire chief July 1. He helped lead the operation Sunday, and said pre-planning helped first responders get to the tracks quickly despite the street being filled with thousands of pedestrians.

“That’s why we do traffic control at each end. It’s to limit the people coming in,” explained Normandeau.

There was nothing that could be done for the victim. The fire department urged everyone who needed help dealing with what they saw to call Southern Health’s Mental Health ACCESS line or CRISIS Services.

“We were there soon enough we were able to back the people away. Unfortunately, whatever the people saw, you can’t make them unsee it. But the best we could do is move the people away from the scene,” said Normandeau.

Firefighters, police, and CN investigators were on scene for four hours with the bells ringing before the train was moved out of the road.

Seine River School Division and Division scolaire franco-manitobaine sent crisis response teams to the schools in La Broquerie to help the students who were at the parade.

St. Vincent’s family took the first step towards healing Monday evening at St Joachim Roman Catholic Church in La Broquerie.

Father Serge Buisse had decided to host the gathering before the accident, announcing it at the pre-parade Sunday mass. But after the tragedy, société ste-jean baptiste de la broquerie president Claude Moquin approached the priest with the idea of a special prayer and moment with the choir and organist.

About 150 members of the community came to the special mass, which Moquin said would normally see 20 to 40 attend. He is a member of the Parish’s Knights of Columbus.

“The response was good, especially on the part of the immediate family,” said Moquin.

St. Vincent’s husband Roger and their children and grandchildren who were able to make it on such short notice attended. A big response came from the community through word of mouth and a post on social media hours before the mass.

“We managed to get almost everything we wanted for the mass, and Father just made it that much more beautiful,” said Moquin.

St. Vincent had family in La Broquerie, with a daughter-in-law from town. There were other family connections to St. Vincent, who was an active member of the francophone and Metis communities. Even Moquin himself shared a great-great grandfather with Roger.

Moquin said St. Vincent grew up in Otterburne before making her way to St. Boniface. He saw her regularly at southeast events for the last 40 years, including the 100th anniversary of St Joseph in 1987.

He would also see the retired couple at Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg, where St. Vincent earned a special capote this year for her dedicated volunteer work.

Anyone seeking mental health assistance can call toll free Southern Health’s Mental Health ACCESS at 1-888-310-4593, or CRISIS Services at 1-888-617-7715.