Memorial Park unveiled at Fallowfield Station for bus-train crash victims

Friends and family of the six peoplekilled when an OC Transpo bus crashed into a movingVia Railpassenger train in Sept. 2013 were invited to the unveiling of a memorial park in honour of their loved ones atFallowfieldStation this morning.

An inscribed black granite boulder sits at the centre of park, surrounded by six unique sections tailored to each of the victims. Plaques with their names and a brief description of their lives are in place, and benches will be installed at each site.

"This memorial honours the individuals whose lives were forever changed on September18, 2013 and is dedicated to the timeless memory of the six individuals who lost their lives. One event ... many realities," the bilingual inscription on the boulder reads.

It's located in a corner of theFallowfieldPark and Ride, near where thedouble-deckerbus hit thetrain.

Bus driver Dave Woodardand passengersKyle Nash, Michael Bleakney, Connor Boyd, Karen Krzyzewski and Rob More were killed in the crash.

The families of all five passengers who died havefiled lawsuits against the city and the bus driver's estate.Via Rail has alsofiled a lawsuit against the city and Woodard's estate.

In a statement of defence filed in some of the lawsuits,the city claimsVia Rail's negligence was to blameand that neither the citynor Woodard were responsible.City lawyers also filed a third-party claim against Via Rail Canadaas part of theirdefence.

The Transportation Safety Board has not released its final report on the crash but apreliminary version named the speed of the bus and distracted driving as possible factors.