Now Public Contributer on scene:
On Sunday, November 23rd, at approximately 9:00 A.M., an explosion occurred on a West Coast Express commuter train while it was travelling through Coquitlam, BC. approximately 20 miles east of Vancouver. There were over 100 passengengers with seriou injuries as well as some fatalities with missing limbs. Fire Department, Paramedics, RCMP and Transit Supervisors were dispatched to the scene. Transit Supervisors called in buses to help transport many of the injured to Eagle Ridge Hospital in Coquitlam as well as to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. Officials from Transport Canada and Public Safety Canad also arrived along with dozens of media and TV reporters. The explosion was an act of terrorism and three individuals, two males and one female were witnessed fleeing from the scene. Transit personnel relayed descriptions of the individuals to police and they were later apprehended about a mile from the accident.
This was a mock emergency exercise, but the injured players were actually transported to the two hospital emergency wards, so even the hospital employees were involved in this exercise. The injured parties were members of the Vancouver Actors Guild, and they did a terrific job with their surreal screaming with pain, and their negative slurs in regards to the tardiness of medical assistance to arrive. All in all, the exercise went extremely well, with many hundreds of people taking part (including myself, a Transit Supervisor).



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at 19:35 on November 24th, 2008
Just a note: the actors were volunteers. Some were students from Vancouver Film School, some from St. John Ambulance and some regular people from all walks of life who responded to the call for volunteers for that day. The Vancouver Film School make up students and their instructors, also volunteers, did the special effects. Every one was amazing.
Heather