Death at Toronto commuter hub raises questions about crowding

Commuters are questioning the safety of train platforms at Toronto's Union Station one day after a man was killed on the tracks.

A 31-year-old man died of injuries suffered in what Metrolinx spokesperson Ann Marie Aikins called a "tragic situation." He has been identified as Daniel Panacci, a long-time RBC IT employee.

“Our thoughts are with our colleague’s family during this very difficult time,” RBC said in a statement Wednesday.

The president of GO Transit, Greg Percy, told The Canadian Press Panacci was dragged when his bag got stuck on a moving train at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday.

Witnesses who spoke to reporters after the incident voiced concerns that the platforms are too narrow, especially during rush hour periods.

Aikins said the incident happened on one of the station's wider platforms. The platform was crowded, but there were several transit safety officers monitoring the crowds at the time.

"We do have lots of staff and they're always watching out, but there's only so much you can do. All of us have to take personal responsibility," she said.

The GO Train platforms measure approximately three metres wide, but are as narrow as 0.5 metres in some areas. Each platform has a wide yellow band at the edge marking an area where it is unsafe for those waiting for trains to stand.

Subway station platforms in the city have similar yellow warning strips.

"Any time you encroach that area, whether it's on the TTC areas or the GO Trains, any time you get inside that area it becomes a danger," Toronto Police Const. Clint Stibbe told reporters on Wednesday.

"We have one of the safest systems in North America with the best safety record. This is a really rare, unusual circumstance to happen," Aikins said.

Aikins and Stibbe stressed the importance of remaining behind the yellow lines as trains approach, saying passengers are responsible for their own safety.

Stibbe, who has seen a surveillance video recorded at the time of the incident, said several people were standing too close to the train during the evening rush hour.

"I saw a number of other people that were very close to being put in harm's way. Luckily they weren't," Stibbe said.

"I think this is a wakeup call to everyone that they really need to pay attention around moving vehicles."

Stibbe said several people called 911 at the time of the incident, but police are still looking for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact investigators at 416-808-1900.

With files from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney and The Canadian Press