A 31-year-old man who died Tuesday at Union Station was pulled to his death when his backpack was hooked by a departing train during the evening rush hour.

The man was either waiting for or exiting the train on platform 11 just after 5:30 p.m. when the “traumatic” incident occurred, said Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins.

“His backpack got caught on the locomotive of the train right at the end as it was leaving, and he was tragically dragged down underneath the train,” Aikins said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been identified by Mirella Vari, a relative, as Daniel Panacci, an IT professional.

Panacci worked for RBC, the bank confirmed in a statement on Wednesday. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with our colleague's family during this very difficult time.”

Panacci was very involved with fundraising, Vari said. Numerous online accounts linked Panacci to fundraising for Movember, the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Ride for Heart and the RBC Run for the Kids.

Vari said Panacci’s immediate family was still reeling from the sudden death, and that funeral arrangements were being made.

Toronto police Duty Insp. Paul MacIntyre told CP24 that GO personnel did not initially realize someone was struck.

Police have since collected video surveillance of the incident and are speaking to witnesses to investigate all factors that could have led to the man’s death.

“The time [of the incident] would put it right in the key rush hour period, so you can expect that there is a large number of individuals on the platform. However, cause … of the collision hasn’t been determined as of yet,” Const. Clint Stibbe said Wednesday.

Stibbe said the death investigation is being treated “no different than a homicide,” adding that witness statements make up a significant portion of the investigation.

Witnesses often take a couple of days to reach out to officers about what they saw, but Stibbe said waiting that long can hurt the investigation.

“We need to speak to those individuals sooner than later,” he said, so that witness statements don’t slip through the cracks and memories remain fresh.

Police have not officially released the identity of the victim.

The incident happened on platform 11 and involved a train en route to Barrie. Police tape cordoned off platforms 10-13 Tuesday evening, and several police vehicles were on site.

“Our hearts go out to the family of the individual involved,” said GO Transit spokesman Mark Ostler. He added that GO Transit is cooperating fully with the ongoing police investigation.

As the fatality occurred on the second day of Operation Lifesaver’s Rail Safety Week in Canada, Aikins cautioned GO Transit riders to be careful around trains.

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“Sometimes people, when they’re in a rush … when they want to get home or when they want to get to work, sometimes they take short cuts and don’t follow all the rules,” Aikins told reporters Wednesday morning.

The investigation continues.

With files from the Canadian Press

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