The St. Louis Express was running east at about 45 mph (72 km/h; 20 m/s), and just before crossing the bridge a flange broke on a driving wheel, dislocating the coupling rod.
[1] The St. Louis Express was one of the fast passenger trains on the Grand Trunk Railway, providing a regular service from Windsor to Toronto.
The St. Louis Express was headed east from Windsor to Toronto, due to pass through the station in St. George, Ontario at 6pm.
[3] The coupling rod came off and the rails were spread, resulting in the locomotive and following cars running between the tracks and on the railway ties.
The dining car followed but landed vertically with the forward end on the ground leaning up against a bridge pier.
The residents of the village of St. George came out in full force to aid the wounded, led by a Dr.
"[2] The Spectator wrote "A noble array of heroic women turned out to minister to the dying and wounded.
"[1] Angus McKay reported to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that "the citizens of the village were indefatigable in their efforts to relieve the sufferings of the injured.
[7] Major Dennis Karn was badly injured but made a full recovery after some time.