Sask. man looking for improved safety at Churchbridge rail crossing after fatal crash

The husband of a woman killed at a Churchbridge rail crossing is asking the province for warning lights to prevent future incidents. Wayne Mantyka reports.

After losing his wife in a train collision, a Saskatchewan man wants to ensure no one else experiences the same tragedy again.

Matthew Thompson lost his wife, Alyssa, in a deadly crash at the Lovel Street rail crossing in Churchbridge, Sask., just 35 days after the couple was married.

Alyssa was 29 years old.

“Everybody that knew Alyssa loved her,” Matthew told reporters at the legislature on Tuesday.

“She was a kind person; she worked in health care, always put everybody else before herself including the residents at the care home where she worked in Saltcoats. Just a well respected member of the community.”

Thompson is urging the provincial government to make safety improvements to better warn and protect drivers approaching the crossing.

Over the years, the Lovel Street rail crossing has become a major concern for Churchbridge residents because of limited visibility and previous collisions.

Thompson said there are few advance warning signs for drivers and that visibility is obstructed by a nearby house and tree line, making it difficult to see trains approaching from the west.

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The crossing was also the site of another fatal crash in January 2023. Forty-one-year-old David Holstein was killed after his vehicle collided with a train while driving his son to a hockey game. Two children were injured in the crash.

“I believe if there was a lighted crossing there, it would at least give you warning to slow down well in advance,” Thompson said.

Thompson has launched an online petition calling for safety upgrades, including better lighting, safer crossing barriers and lighted crossbucks.

As of Tuesday, the petition had gathered 2,592 signatures.

Churchbridge had a population of 866 in 2021, making it difficult for the community to fund upgrades on its own.

The proposed improvements are estimated to cost about $460,000.

Some residents have previously called on CPKC to help cover the cost.

According to Thompson, CPKC initially indicated it would contribute financially but later declined to commit funding at this time, instead pointing to existing government grant programs.

“[The new warning system] could potentially be supported with funding from Transport Canada’s Rail Safety Improvement Program or other federal or provincial infrastructure funding contribution programs to municipalities and road authorities,” the company said in a statement to CTV News.

“I hope something does get done about it this time, but also in a timely manner,” Thompson said.

Highways Minister Kim Gartner said he is open to meeting with Thompson.

“We’re going to continue to work with our partners, with the Class 1 railways. This is an issue that is raised unfortunately far too many times,” Gartner said during question period.

“I’ve offered to meet with the town of Churchbridge, and I’m going to do that, and we’ll continue to work with the Class 1s to try and get something solved.”

NDP MLA Darcy Warrington urged the province not to shift responsibility elsewhere.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a different level of government or another business that shares the blame in this, he can do something today to ensure that there isn’t another fatality at this rail crossing in 23 months or less,” he said.

With files from Fruzsina De Cloedt