UPDATE: Maple Ridge train crash victim identified

A mother of three has been identified as the victim of the fatal train-vehicle collision last week in Maple Ridge.

Darcy Mulder, a Maple Ridge resident, lived 10 minutes away from her office at A&H Steel Ltd. where she worked as human resources coordinator.

Her eldest son Kyle Greenwood, 30, said his mother moved to Vancouver from Kitimat when she was 19-years-old and moved to Maple Ridge in 2016.

“Our family is devastated. It hurt. We lost our rock. We lost that everything. We lost the thing that made this house a home. She was a very special lady and meant the world to us,” said Greenwood.

“It’s not fair. She meant the world to everyone. She was a loving person and meant everything. She would take the clothes off her back, she would shelter anyone.”

She was like a mother to all of his friends, her son said.

Mulder was in her SUV on her way home from work on Thursday, April 21, and was at the train crossing at 272nd Street and Lougheed Highway, when, just after 5:30 p.m. a semi-trailer truck, that was turning off Lougheed Highway, going south over the tracks, was struck by an eastbound train.

The impact caused the flatbed to spin, hitting Mulder’s vehicle, rolling it and then pinning it.

Jaws of life were used to get Mulder out of the vehicle, but despite life-saving efforts by first responders, she could not be saved.

Matthys van Emmenis, vice president of operations at A&H Steel Vancouver, said everyone at the Maple Ridge facility is deeply saddened about the passing of Mulder.

“This is a tremendous loss for her family, as well as our A&H Steel work family. Darcy was very well loved by all that spent time with her, she cared deeply about our people, and was unquestionably committed to elevating our people,” he said.

A grief counsellor was on site at the facility, and the board has been in communication with Mulder’s family to offer their condolences, noted van Emmenis.

“Our hearts and prayers are with Darcy’s husband and three children during this difficult time,” he added.

Greenwood’s father Gene, Mulder’s ex-partner, described her as hard working, and self-sufficient, who, as a young mother was able to purchase a home by herself.

“Darcy Mulder was a very important part of my life as she gave us a wonderful son, Kyle. Some of the best times in my life were with Darcy and Kyle,” Gene wrote online, sending his hugs and prayers out to his son, Kyle, Kyle’s brother, Braxton, and sister, Zoey, and Mulder’s partner Kevin Mutch.

“It is a tough day for the Mulder, Greenwood, Keller, and Mutch families,” he added.

READ MORE: Train-truck crash kills one in Maple Ridge

ALSO: Condolences pour in for woman killed in Maple Ridge train crash

Greenwood also shared online how much his mother meant to him and his family.

“On April 21st 2022 the world lost a wonderful, loving, caring person, and most importantly my best friend. My mother was on her way home and she never made it, an accident took her away from everyone she loved,” he wrote on April 23, saying she will be thoroughly missed.

Greenwood noted in his post that this is a hard time for his family and that they will be responding to people as they can.

It is a reminder to hug those you love and tell them how much you love them, he said, because the world is unpredictable.

“I miss and love you so much mom. I wish I could hug you one last time. You’ll always be our mind and we will do the best to make you proud,” said Greenwood, who is hoping to honour his mother’s memory by helping to make rail crossings safer – so no one else has to go through the pain his family is going through.

Ridge Meadows RCMP investigational support team, the serious crimes unit, and the Integrated Collision Analysis Reconstruction Services (ICARS) are all assisting with the investigation.

No further details have been released by the Ridge Meadows RCMP.

Police want anyone who witnessed the collision or those who have dash camera footage to contact the Const. Phil Ethier of the Ridge Meadows RCMP, at 604-463-6251.