It has been an excruciating few days for teenager Billy Dennison, who survived a near train collision – and one of his best friends did not.

Tristan Morrisette-Perkins, a 16-year-old from Dorval, died Monday night in a train collision in South Glengarry, east of Cornwall, Ont.

The two were together along with Tristan’s cousin when Tristan was killed by the oncoming Via train.

Billy, 17, escaped uninjured because he managed to press himself between a fence and the train, and 15-year-old Bailey Morrissette-Bilney jumped off the bridge and out of the way. He sustained minor injuries.

It’s clear Billy is still, understandably, in shock.

“It's kind of, like, hard to believe he's gone because I knew him almost my whole life. He's not here anymore,” said the teen.


Billy, left, and Tristan were close friends.

Tristan, Billy and Bailey were taking pictures at a train bridge near Lancaster, Ont. where they spent their summers, when the train came on faster than they anticipated.

“We said, ‘If a train comes we'll feel the train tracks move,’ but we didn't feel it at all. We didn't hear it until it came close to us and that's when it started honking its horn,” he said.

Tristan, who just graduated John Rennie High School in the West Island a few weeks ago, didn’t survive.

“He was the nicest boy you could ever know,” said Joy Blanchard, a close family friend who runs a campground in Lancaster.

Blanchard said kids and even adults have been known to hang out on the tracks.

“It's almost like a little park with no parents around,” she said.

Via Rail confirms the boys were in a restricted area.

Last year in Canada there were 46 train fatalities involving trespassers.

Via issued a statement saying following Tristan’s death, saying, "Most incidents involving our trains occur when people trespass on rail property or take unnecessary risks when crossing the tracks."

Blanchard pointed out that the only barrier to the train bridge is an old and broken barrier gate.


Joy Blanchard opens the unlocked gate offering access to the train tracks

“The kids know the way to get here… and they don't realize the dangers because there aren’t even any danger signs. There's nothing,” she said.

Funeral arrangements are being made.