A Winnipeg man says he is happy to be alive after the van he was driving collided with a train on Monday morning.

The van Jarrod Patzer was driving crashed into the train just after 6:30 a.m. CT on Fermor Avenue near Archibald Street.

Patzer was extricated from the vehicle and taken to hospital, but he told CBC News on Monday afternoon that he just had whiplash and some cuts and bruises.

However, his work van was crushed and mangled by the train.

Patzer said he was on his way to pick up some co-workers and thought to himself, "Oh no, that train looks close" as he approached the rail crossing.

The next thing he knew, he was waking up to the aftermath of the crash, Patzer recalled.

It was only by luck that his co-workers weren't in the van with him, he said.

Patzer said he was alert and was not speeding, and he did not see flashing lights at the rail crossing, which has no guard arms.

CP Rail told CBC News that the the lights and bells were working properly at the crossing.

The neighbourhood where the rail crossing is located has opted for an overnight ban on train whistles, so it was not sounded at the time.

The collision forced emergency crews to close a section of Fermor in both directions during the morning rush hour.

The train also remained backed up for some distance on the track, causing problems at other rail crossings.

Traffic finally began moving again just before 9 a.m.

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