MONTREAL - A Rio Tinto Alcan employee was struck and killed by a rail car today in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Que.

Sgt. Claude Denis of Quebec provincial police says it's possible the man never heard the rail car moving.

Denis says the victim was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The accident occurred this morning at the Roberval-Saguenay railway, which is owned by Rio Tinto Alcan.

The company says it's conducting an investigation into the matter with the help of police.

It has suspended operations on the railway until further notice.