10 a.m.
La Grange police are not giving out much information this morning about an accident near Stone Avenue Station when a Metra work train struck a vehicle at the Gilbert Avenue Crossing just before 6 p.m. on Friday night.
Police did confirm this morning that the victim was a woman in her 50s from Chicago. The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting the victim's name is Maria Hinojosa, and that she was killed when the train struck her vehicle. She was pronounced dead on the scene by the Cook County Medical Examiners Office at about 6:30 p.m.
Police are still investigating why her vehicle was on the tracks. Metra officials said yesterday that the train would have been going at top speed when it struck the car—about 60 mph.
No passengers were on the train when the accident occurred, and Metra said no personel on the train were injured in the accident.
The accident caused numerous cancelations and hour an a half long delays for riders on trains traveling in both directions last night.
We'll update readers with more information as it becomes available, which La Grange police indicated would be on Monday.
12 a.m.
The Chicago Tribune is citing authorities who say a woman in her 50s was killed in an accident tonight when a Metra work train struck a vehicle near Stone Avenue Station.
8:30 p.m.
One person has been killed in an accident near Stone Avenue Station in La Grange tonight.
A Metra train headed toward Chicago struck a vehicle near the station around 6:30 p.m. The Chicago Tribune is reporting the person killed was either in or around the vehicle when it was struck. The train was traveling at nearly 60 mph when it hit the vehicle.
Trains are still stopped around Stone Avenue Station, with hour-long delays still expected.
Police have not yet issued any information about the victim.
6:45 P.m.
Metra trains running to and from Chicago were stopped this evening near Stone Avenue station because of an accident involving a train and a vehicle, La Grange Police said.
According to the Chicago Tribune, no passengers were on the train, only crew members.
The delay is unknown at this time, but trains are not operating past Stone Avenue station.
Check back for updates as we get more information.
The number 1 reason why people, whether on foot, on a bike, or in a motor vehicle, are hit by trains in and around grade crossings in Chicagoland is because they go around lowered crossing gates. I lived near that grade crossing more than 30 years. This was an eastbound train, so there is good visibility to the west of the crossing. If the driver drove around the gates, it's possible that she thought that the train had stopped at Western Springs and was going to stop at Stone Avenue. So, it would have been traveling around 25 to 35 miles per hour. It's hard to judge how fast a train is moving, while sitting at a crossing, especially at night. That's why you wait while the gates are lowered. If we get high speed rail, I believe all crossings have to have double gates, so that cars and trucks can't drive around lowered gates.
She pulled out, drove past me (while flipping me off), and made her right turn. Then, she came to a stop for the red light for the intersection on the other side of the tracks, with at least half of her car on the tracks. Fortunately, no train came through, and I hope she learned her lesson.
My condolences.
this is the 3rd time trying to comment and yes im signed in dont expect to hear much more on this story as the suburban police depts and towns wish to sweep it under the rug. On feb 10 2010 i watched my car get smacked by the express train i was attempting to cross at Stough st Hinsdale, Due to Hinsdale poor response on snow clearing my car became stuck on the crossing ,NO I DID NOT GO AROUND GATES. i called hinsdale and asked them to notify bnsf/metra (so at least the engineer/crew would know car empty)but they didnt. THEN to top it all off even though the Hinsdale Police had the facts,they issued untrue information to the media They claimed i lost control of car,slid and hit a snowbank which caused me to end up on tracks.They also claimed that they had responded but couldnt get car off tracks..Well they DID NOT respond til AFTER THE CAR WAS HIT! and then to add insult to injury the also claimed i was 50.(which i am not).unbelievable how they could put out such lies to the media to protect their image as a village.