'So lucky': Police say Oakville man, 22, wearing earbuds when struck by train and sent flying through the air

A young man hospitalized with serious injuries after being hit by a GO Train in Oakville was wearing earbuds at the time and didn't hear or see the train coming, according to Halton Regional Police.

The incident, which occurred around 5 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 27) when the 22-year-old was walking over the crossing at Fourth Line near Speers Road, has police warning pedestrians to remove any such devices, don't be looking at your phone, be vigilant and pay attention when using railway crossings.

Police say the passing train, going about 100 km/h, clipped the young man's backpack, sending him flying through the air.

He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries and is expected to survive.

"He's so lucky," said Charles Mace, who works a few hundred metres away from where the man was struck."Lucky to be alive."