Stefano Lucchesi, the IBEW apprentice killed at a dangerous railway crossing.
On March 1, 2017, Local 353 apprentice Stefano Lucchesi died because the railway crossing at 6th Line (Mile 37.18) in Tottenham, Ontario does not have gate arms.
On that day, he drove through the railway crossing on his way home from work and was hit and killed by a train.
This crossing is on Transport Canada’s list of the 500 highest risk rail crossings in Canada. To help make this crossing safer and prevent further tragedies, we ask everyone to please sign this petition on Change.org.
The petition will be delivered to Transport Minister Marc Garneau, Mayor Rick Milne, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It asks for railway crossing arms to warn drivers, cyclists and pedestrians of all ages of approaching trains.
A safer railway crossing will become more important as time passes, because the Tottenham and New Tecumseh area has a growing population which includes families.
About Stefano
Stefano was a third term apprentice with IBEW 353 Toronto, and is fondly remembered as a son, brother, friend, boyfriend, and coworker. He was only 24 years old at the time of his tragic accident.
Aurelio Marrone was a friend of Stefano. “As family and friends, we want to make sure this never happens again,” he says.
“I sincerely believe that if there had been gate arms at the crossing, Stefano’s life would have been saved. We want to ensure that this railway crossing and all railway crossings are made as safe as possible for everyone.”
Aurelio and others have been knocking on doors in the Tottenham area to ask for signatures for the petition. “We’ve collected over 1,200 written signatures so far, and support has been overwhelmingly positive. Most of the people we’ve talked to have said this is long overdue.”
Between the online and offline petitions, there are currently about 2,500 signatures. More are needed, however, so the petition has more chance of success.
“This won’t happen overnight,” says Aurelio, “and there’s a lot of work to be done. But we have a lot of public support on our side.”
Please help ensure that no one else has to endure a preventable loss like this.
Sign the Petition
Learn More
- Watch the CBC Documentary on the Lac Megantic rail disaster and other rail accidents in Canada.