By Pepper Parr
Burlington, Ont., May 1, 2012 – It wasn’t the way Wayne Easterbrook expected the trip from Niagara Falls back to Kingston to go. He and his wife had been on a short rest and recreation jaunt to Niagara Falls, when on the way back home everything very suddenly went very, very wrong and years of armed forces experience kicked into action and Warrant Officer Easterbrook was doing what he was trained to do – and do very well.
“People were yelling and screaming all over the place”, said Easterbrook. “My wife had been injured and is still recovering but there were people now needed help and so I helped.”
Army Warrant Officer Wayne Easterbrook talking to news reporter about his experience on derailed VIA train 92.
Easterbrook was one of five people recognized by the Burlington city council for their brave and selfless acts. Burlington Mayor Goldring said. “Each of you contributed in a different and important way to the well-being of those who needed you so urgently following the tragic circumstances of the February VIA train derailment.”
Recognized along with Easterbrook were: Joette Cantafio and Greg Mohoruk, Ceilidh Gillies and Dean Melnyk.
Easterbrook, who is a Warrant Office with the Signal Corps of the Canadian Army, based in Kingston, began helping people out of the derailed passenger car moments after the impact. In his statement Mayor Goldring said: “Easterbrook assisted many people on board the lead passenger car prior to, and after, the arrival of emergency services personnel. He stayed to assist even after his wife was significantly injured and taken from the scene.”
Passenger cars of VIA train # 92 were smashed together with passengers inside. There were no passenger fatalities.
VIA employees Joette Cantafio and Greg Mohoruk were at their home in Burlington on Feb. 26, enjoying their Sunday off, when they heard about the derailment. They went to the site right away to volunteer their help.
The two canvassed passengers for vital information such as names, addresses and final destination, reassuring them that they would be taken care of. Greg helped to gather luggage that had been collected from the train, transferring it to the waiting bus. Joette stayed with the passengers for the bus transfer to Toronto. Once there, she made sure that everyone’s needs were taken care of.
Ceilidh Gillies, another VIA employee was on the train alone in the last car at the time of the derailment. Ceilidh helped gather information from the manifest and confirmed that there were three employees in the engine car. She made several calls from that car to VIA, which assisted in a quick response.
Dean Melnyk, VIA service manager was also on the train at the time of the derailment. Melnyk stayed on the train until almost all patients had been removed from the lead passenger car, even though he had also been injured. He assisted crews with moving passengers from the train and helped with French translation for the large number of passengers who have French for a first language.
Mayor Rick Goldring tonight presented certificates of recognition to five people, including one Warrant Officer aboard VIA Rail train 92 that derailed in Burlington on Feb. 26 and four VIA staff who helped those in need.
Three VIA employees,all engineers in the diesel pulling the train were killed in the accident. Train is being righted for removal.
Luis Calhau, Manager of Customer Experience for VIA said to Council: “On behalf of my fellow employees at VIA Rail, and especially on behalf of our customers who were on train 92 on February 26, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to the City of Burlington, the personnel at the various emergency services who helped that day and in the days following, as well as the many others who offered whatever help they could,” said “Your response was rapid, professional, and most of all, caring. It is our honour to be here tonight to receive awards.”
The federal Transportation Safety Board has said speed was a factor in the derailment. It said the train was traveling 67 m.p.h. (108 km/h) when it went through a crossover, where the speed limit is 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).
The accident also injured 45 of the 75 passengers on board.
