Montreal

Firefighters respond after train hits fuel truck, causes leak in Saint-Laurent

A police spokesperson described the collision, which happened around 10:30 a.m., as minor and said there was no fire or explosion.

Ambulances deployed to the area as a precaution, but no injuries were reported

A close-up of a Montreal fire truck.
Montreal firefighters were supporting CN workers on Friday after a train struck a fuel truck, spilling ethanol at a train yard in Saint-Laurent. (CBC)

A train struck a fuel truck in Montreal's Saint-Laurent borough on Friday morning, spilling approximately 150 litres of ethanol.

A police spokesperson described the collision, which happened around 10:30 a.m., as minor and said there was no fire or explosion.

Multiple emergency vehicles, including police cars and ambulances, attended the scene, a Canadian National (CN) train yard off of Hickmore Street.

An Urgences-santé spokesperson reported no injuries, but said paramedics were there to support the firefighters. 

The Montreal fire department deployed a hazardous materials truck to the scene to support CN, a spokesperson said. 

Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plant material. It is a frequent additive to gasoline. 

Written by Matthew Lapierre