Canadian Pacific employee is killed in St. Paul rail yard incident

An employee in a St. Paul rail yard was killed in a workplace incident, authorities said Sunday.

The fatality occurred about 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the Canadian Pacific rail yard along Childs Road during the worker's shift change, police said.

The victim's identity has yet to be released. He was pronounced dead at nearby Regions Hospital.

"Our thoughts are with the employee's family and friends at this time," said Canadian Pacific spokesman Marty Cej. "Out of respect for their privacy, we are not releasing additional details about the employee or the incident."

Andy Cummings, another Canadian Pacific spokesman, said the company was not ready to address the circumstances surrounding the death.

Cej said Canadian Pacific will "conduct a thorough investigation into the incident," and in the meantime is offering counseling to employees affected by the co-worker's death.

This rail yard, one of a handful in the vicinity, is located just east of the Mississippi River and to the southeast of downtown St. Paul.