At least 24 crashes involving ION LRT since inception in 2019
Since Waterloo Region’s LRT started operating in the summer of 2019 there have been a number of crashes involving ION trains.
The crashes have typically involved vehicles, but there have also been run-ins with cyclists and one crash where a pedestrian was fatally struck.
The first time a person was hurt was just months after the LRT trains began operating.
This section of King Street between Agnes Street and Green Street in Kitchener has seen at least nine crashes involving LRT trains in the last four years. (Daniel Caudle/Datawrapper)
On Nov. 8, 2019 a cyclist was sent to hospital after turning in front of an ION train on Courtland Avenue East near Ottawa Street South.
That cyclist was later charged with careless driving.
A couple of months later, on the morning of Jan. 4, 2020, a southbound train struck 39-year-old Jason Rastel on Columbia Street West near Phillip Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
It was the first and only fatal LRT train crash since the ION launched.
Some other notable crashes include when a cement truck smashed into the side of the ION on King Street East Near Agnes Street last July.
CTV News Kitchener has reported on a total of 24 crashes between May 2019 and March 2023.
This section in south Kitchener comprising of Ottawa Street South near Courtland Avenue East has seen several crashes since the LRT began operating. (Daniel Caudle/Datawrapper)
Of those, the intersections with the highest number of incidents include:
- Seven on King Street between Green And Agnes
- Two at King Street and Union
- Four at Ottawa and Courtland
One of the crashes happened in May of 2019 before operations officially began - at that point the trains were in testing.
The list provided only includes only the crashes CTV News Kitchener has reported on.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.