Man killed by GO Transit train during Tuesday evening rush hour

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Commuters gathered in the early spring sunshine at Union station were left watching in helpless horror as a bank employee in his 30s got too close to a GO train and was dragged to his death.

The fatality happened during the early evening rush hour Tuesday. The victim was walking near the edge of the platform when the tail end of an outbound train snagged his backpack, Metrolinx, the regional transit agency that runs GO, said Wednesday. He was pulled under the train immediately.

The victim was identified as Daniel Panacci, an employee in the technology and operations team at RBC. He was 31 and had worked at the bank, RBC said, for more than 10 years.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident," the bank said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with our colleague's family during this very difficult time."

Police say the man was walking in the opposite direction of the westbound train, making his way east along the platform, when he became entangled with it.

"He was caught and dragged by the locomotive and subsequently fell under the train," said police spokeswoman Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu.

The Barrie-bound train was running backwards, with the locomotive at the tail and the crew at the other end. The incident happened towards the west end of the platform, meaning that much of the train was already out of the station and the locomotive was about to exit.

"Our hearts go out to the individual's loved ones during this very difficult time, as well as the passengers and staff who have been impacted," Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig said in a statement. "I also want to say to the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on GO Transit that their safety is our number one priority and our commitment to their well-being is unwavering."

Mr. Panacci ended up on the tracks adjacent to a quite narrow stretch of platform, where most of the space is taken up with an elevator shaft. But he is believed to have been hit to the east of that spot, in a relatively open part of the platform with a bumpy yellow strip warning people not to get too close to the edge. There are also signs telling people to "stay back of yellow line."

It's unclear why he was so close to the train and the death prompted questions about whether the platform was dangerously crowded or if the man had gone somewhere he shouldn't have gone.

Both police and the transit agency said that the area the incident occurred is not prohibited-access. And while police are considering crowding as one possible factor, Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins said it wasn't particularly busy.

"It wasn't [that crowded]," she said. "The surveillance video shows, there are people, but it didn't appear to be too crowded."

At the same time one day later the scene was lively but there was plenty of room to move about the platform.

The incident happened during Rail Safety Week and was a tragic reminder, according Ms. Aikins, of the necessity of staying the proper distance from trains.

"They're heavy, heavy equipment," she said. "It's important that we always be mindful, always stay back from the yellow line, take a lot of caution and be aware of your surroundings. Always. At all times around trains."

GO staff and then EMS tried to revive the victim but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"I was saddened to learn of the tragic death of this young man yesterday evening," Toronto Mayor John Tory said in a statement relayed by his spokeswoman.

"Public safety is of the utmost importance in Toronto. I trust that a thorough investigation is taking place and I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of this young man."