USAupdated 12m ago3 min read
MapAmtrak Train Strikes Vehicle at Wolf Road Crossing, Killing Two Elementary Students
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This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Two elementary students killed after Amtrak hits SUV at Wolf Road crossing, Western Springs. One adult injured, taken to Loyola Hospital in Maywood.
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Two children killed
Two elementary school students died after an Amtrak train struck a vehicle at the Wolf Road railroad crossing in downtown Western Springs, Illinois, shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, authorities and school officials said.
Amtrak said train No. 381 was traveling from Chicago to Quincy at approximately 8:10 a.m. (CT) when a vehicle came on the tracks and made contact with the train just west of La Grange.
Pleasantdale School District 107 confirmed that the two children killed were elementary school students, and Superintendent Dave Palzet wrote to families that "Words cannot express the heartbreak and sorrow we feel as we mourn this devastating loss."
Officials said none of the 35 people aboard the train was injured, and Amtrak said customers were reaccommodated with alternate transportation via a bus that would make all stops between La Grange and Quincy.
Witness Mike Struglinski said, "I heard this loud bang, and I walked out, and I saw the car up in flames, saw all the smoke," as train tracks in the area later reopened following an hours-long investigation.
Gates, witnesses, investigation
Village officials said the crossing gates were functioning and engaged at the time of the collision, and they said preliminary reports indicated the railroad crossing gates were functioning and were engaged.
A witness described the crash as a sudden fireball, and WGN-TV quoted William Frey saying, "I saw a huge, like, fire ball. The car went up in flames immediately," after the impact.
Pleasantdale School District 107 told families that school social workers informed homeroom students, and the district superintendent wrote, "School staff and homeroom students were informed by our school social workers this afternoon."
Amtrak Senior Public Relations Manager Jason Abrams said the Carl Sandburg train was traveling from Chicago to Quincy when "a vehicle came on the tracks and made contact," while the Chicago Tribune said police were still investigating details of the crash.
The Chicago Tribune also reported that a witness said the vehicle went around warning gates before it was struck, while the village and early reports indicated the gates were functioning at the time.
Service halted, support
Metra said all BNSF service was halted for most of Wednesday morning, and Metra later listed BNSF trains that would not operate due to an earlier Amtrak train striking a vehicle.
“Social workers will be on site at Village Hall on Thursday, November 12, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.”
The Chicago Tribune said the crash stopped Metra BNSF Line trains, impacting hundreds of commuters, until service was restored late in the afternoon Wednesday.
Amtrak said passengers were disembarked and taken away from the area by bus, and the Herald-Whig said the investigation was continuing with law enforcement and emergency response teams including MCAT, State Police, Metra, and BNSF.
Pleasantdale School District 107 said counselors and crisis staff were expected to be on site Thursday, Nov. 12, to support students, teachers and staff after the deaths.
The village said social workers would be at Village Hall on Thursday, November 12, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to offer assistance to anyone who witnessed the accident, and it urged residents to stay alert and obey warning signals near the tracks.