Skip to content

Manitoba highway closed for hours after cattle killed in train-truck crash

Dozens of cattle are dead after the semi they were being transported in collided with a freight train in dense fog in western Manitoba.

CARBERRY, Man. — Dozens of cattle are dead after the semi they were being transported in collided with a freight train in dense fog in western Manitoba.

RCMP say the crash involving a westbound Canadian National Railways freight happened shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday at a main line crossing on Highway 5 north of Carberry.

Police say the truck was carrying 82 cattle, but only 11 survived the impact that forced the closure of the highway for several hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.

Alcohol has been ruled out as a factor in the accident that did not injure any train crew members, but left the truck driver in stable condition in a Winnipeg hospital.

Warren Chandler, a CN spokesman, says three empty flatbed cars derailed, but no dangerous goods were involved and that the crossing arm and warning lights were working at the time of the crash.

RCMP Cpl. Jerrid St. Pierre says one of the cars hit a nearby storage shed belonging to agri-business company Viterra.