Passing of TTC Colleague Tom Dedes

Dear Colleagues,

It is with immense sadness and a sense of profound shock that I must write to inform you of the loss of our TTC colleague, Tom Dedes.

Tom gave 18 years of his working life to the TTC and his tragic passing, at the age of just 50, leaves his family, friends and TTC colleagues bereft.

The TTC is working with investigators from the Ministry of Labour to understand the circumstances of Tom’s tragic accident at McCowan Yard on Oct. 1 and I shall update you once the findings are known.

While accidents such as this are thankfully very rare, we will leave no stone unturned and do whatever it takes to prevent such an incident from happening again.

In the meantime, I have reached out to Tom’s family to offer them our heartfelt condolences from all of us in the TTC family.

Our thoughts are also with Tom’s friends and colleagues in track in what is a very sad and difficult time.

Andy Byford
Chief Executive Officer
Toronto Transit Commission
October 9, 2017

Statement on the passing of TTC employee Tom Dedes

Tom Dedes, 50, an 18-year veteran of the TTC and a subway track maintenance employee, succumbed to injuries today sustained after a workplace incident in the early hours of Oct. 1. He died at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where he’d been rushed following the incident.

Just after 2 a.m. on Oct. 1, Tom and his co-workers were off-loading equipment from a TTC pickup truck onto a workcar at McCowan Yard in preparation of maintenance work to be performed on Line 3 Scarborough later that night. When the workcar was finished being loaded, it moved off under the power of a locomotive. There is no traction power rail where the workcar was situated. Tom was positioned between the pickup truck and the workcar when the tail swing of the workcar struck and pinned Tom against the pickup truck, causing significant internal injuries.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour was immediately notified and their investigation is ongoing. A parallel TTC investigation is also ongoing.

“On behalf of the entire TTC family, I send my deepest condolences to Tom’s parents and his partner, Gina, at this very difficult time,” said TTC CEO Andy Byford. “Our thoughts are also with Tom’s co-workers as we all come to terms with this tragic and shocking event.”

The TTC is co-operating, fully, with the Ministry of Labour to understand what happened and what needs to be done to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.

Grief counsellors are being made available for Tom’s co-workers. The TTC will consult with Tom’s family regarding any special arrangements they may have for his funeral.

News released issued Oct. 9, 2017

Statement by TTC Chair Josh Colle on the death of Tom Dedes

Today, Tom Dedes, a devoted 18-year employee of the TTC passed away in hospital where he was being treated for serious injuries sustained while performing his duties at the McCowan Yard on Sun., Oct. 1.

On behalf of the entire TTC Board, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Tom’s family, friends and colleagues. In doing so, I join with our CEO, Andy Byford, in committing to ensuring that the TTC is a safe place for our employees. As a Board, we stand ready to do our part in creating a workplace in which tragedies like this one are eliminated.

Released Oct. 9, 2017