'I've never seen tragedy like this,' says man after child killed by GO train

Muhammad Tayyab says he knew something was wrong when he heard a train's blaring horn in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday evening.

He ran out of his work garage to find a number of people by the GO train tracks screaming and crying.

Tayyab says he saw a woman pick up a small child and start running back and forth.

"It was a really sad moment," he said. "I've never seen tragedy like this."

Tayyab called emergency responders around 7:40 p.m., who he says arrived approximately five minutes later and confirmed the child had died.

The train had been heading east when the child was struck west of Dixie GO Station. Peel Regional Police, Canadian Pacific Railway and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are all investigating.

Meanwhile, new fencing has been put in place to prevent people from crossing the tracks.

Peel police said they would not be providing any information about the child to protect the family's privacy. However, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie posted to social media that the child was a four-year-old girl. 

Gaps in fencing often used as shortcut: resident

Police could not provide details on how the child got onto the tracks, but some have pointed to multiple gaps in the fencing alongside the train route.

Nathan Burgess, who lives nearby, says people use these gaps as shortcuts to cross the tracks to Dundas Street.

"You can easily walk back and forth," said Burgess. "It saves you a good five- to 10-minute walk from just walking around."

There are multiple warning signs next to the tracks, but Burgess says there's otherwise nothing stopping people from crossing the tracks.

"Everyone knows about it."

On Wednesday morning, crews were seen installing new fencing to close the gaps that had allowed residents to get onto the tracks.

'A profound impact on everyone involved'

In a written statement, Metrolinx spokesperson James Wattie said: "Our thoughts are with [the child's] family and loved ones as well as with our train crew and passengers.

"This has had a profound impact on everyone involved, from our crew and passengers to Metrolinx staff," the statement said.

Metrolinx is providing grief counsellors "for our crew and staff investigating the scene," Wattie said.

"We understand tonight's tragic incident was also very upsetting to many customers. There are many excellent mental health supports in the community and we encourage them to reach out to someone if needed."

Crombie tweeted that city hall flags are at half-mast in Mississauga in memory of the child.

"My heart and thoughts go out to the family and all those affected by this terrible accident," she said.