The father of a four-year-old girl struck and killed by a GO train in Mississauga, Ontario. last week he spoke for the first time since the accident.
Emmanuel Nwabuoku told CP24 on Tuesday that his daughter Mitchell was fatally struck by a train last week while playing with her siblings.
“Mitchell is an angel, she talks like an angel. Mitchell acts like an angel,” Nwabuoku said.
He said his daughter had left the apartment with her older siblings to go down to get ice cream at the park.
“Just 15 minutes later, we got the call that she couldn’t breathe anymore and we ran out immediately,” Nwabuoku said.
Around 7:40 p.m., emergency services were called to the area of Dundas Street and Cawthra Road for reports of a child struck by a GO train.
Mitchell Nwabuoku was struck and killed by a GO train in Mississauga last month. (Delivered)
Emanuel says his children were chasing a butterfly before his youngest daughter walked across the aisle and onto the train tracks, where she was hit by an oncoming train.
“They said they followed a butterfly. They were playing in the park and they chased the butterfly to this place. I couldn’t speak, I didn’t hear anything else. Only to see my daughter lifeless on the floor,” he said.
Just before 9pm, Peel Police confirmed Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene.
Metrolinx, which operates the GO train service, said about 300 passengers were aboard the train when the child was struck.
A witness who owns a nearby garage told CP24 the day after the accident that he was working when he heard a train honking and a loud squeal of a railroad brake.
“When I came out of my garage, I saw that the train had stopped. This has never happened before,” said Muhammad Tayyab.
“Three children were screaming and crying very loudly. I was shocked. I ran there… I see the body, there was one child on the side… They are very badly injured.”
Area residents spoke to CP24 after the incident and said the lack of barriers in front of the train tracks is a known problem and that it’s not unusual to see people crossing the tracks.
Mitchell was born in 2017 in Dallas, Texas and her family moved to Canada in 2018.
Nwabuoku said he is a happy child who brings joy to everyone’s life.
Crews install a fence near a section of train tracks in Mississauga, Ontario. on July 27, 2022
“Mitchell is a vibrant person. Mitchell is a jovial man. Mitchell has touched lives… Mitchell can’t sleep without hugging everyone. Mitchell can’t do anything without kissing daddy. Because Mitchell is daddy’s princess. Mitchell is everything to us,” he said.
Nwabuoku is not only dealing with the loss of her child, but also the loss of her mother, who died two days before Mitchell’s death. He said that’s why his family is staying with his brothers while they plan his mother’s funeral.
He added that there are no words to explain the pain of losing his child, but he thanked everyone for their love and support.
“What can I say… I know what it means to lose a child. For those who weep for us, God will comfort each one of us.”
An investigation is underway after a toddler was fatally struck by a GO train on July 26, 2022.
Mitchell’s funeral was held in Mississauga at Turner & Porter Funeral Home on Tuesday morning.
A Metrolinx spokesman said Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing and that their “thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the young child.”
With files from CP24’s Joshua Freeman and CTV News Toronto’s Phil Tsekouras
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