The driver of a pickup truck walked away unharmed after his vehicle collided with a VIA train east of Cobourg on Monday, July 21, 2025.
At approximately 3 p.m. emergency services were notified of a vehicle that collided with a train on Pentecostal Road just east of Cobourg.
Witnesses told Today’s Northumberland that the pickup was heading northbound from the Pentecostal Camp.
There are working railways signals with audio, lights and a barrier at the crossing that encompasses both CN Rail and CP Rail.
Witnesses say the driver made it north through the CP Rail tracks but the signals started to lower at the CN tracks.
The front end of the pickup was struck by the VIA train, taking off the front bumper of the pickup truck and causing further damage.
Because of the speed of the VIA train it stopped approximately one-kilometre away just east of the County Road 2 bridge at Cobourg.
Emergency services including Northumberland OPP, Northumberland County Paramedics, Hamilton Township Fire Department, Alnwick/Haldimand Township Fire Department and Cobourg Fire Department responded to the scene.
Miraculously the 74-year-old driver of the pickup truck walked away from the collision unharmed.
The driver from Westbrook, Ontario was charged with disobey railway crossing signal – proceed unsafely.
No one on the VIA train was injured and the railline was reopened at approximately 4:20 p.m.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
