CHICAGO — Witnesses report a vehicle drove around crossing gates before being struck by a Metra train Sunday evening in an accident that killed three people in the car — including a 5-year-old girl — and injured the train’s engineer, conductor and three passengers while derailing the cab car.
The Chicago Tribune reports the collision occurred at West 107th street and South Vincennes Avenue about 5 p.m., with the vehicle pushed by the train to 103rd Street — about two-fifths of a mile — before coming to a stop. The inbound train on Metra’s Rock Island District had left Joliet at 4:25 p.m.
All three victims were declared dead at the scene. The Tribune reports two have been identified: 38-year-old Joneisha Ransberry and 5-year-old Essence Ransberry.
An Associated Press report indicates eyewitness accounts say the car pulled out of a line of stop vehicles and drove around the crossing gates, where it was struck by a train traveling at about 75 mph. The speed limit at the location is 79 mph. Metra has confirmed the gates were working.
A Metra spokeswoman said 41 passengers were onboard. Of the three that were injured, two requested treatment at a hospital. The remaining passengers were transported to a nearby Chicago Transit Authority Red Line station to continue to Chicago. Trains were routed off the Rock Island main line to the parallel Beverly Branch while the accident investigation continued.
Well that’s what people get for being stupid, no thoughts and prayers from me, as a retired conductor, I’ve seen enough near misses and collisions to last me.
And you know some lawyer will find a family member of the driver and then sue Metra. Then Metra’s lawyers will advise on a settlement and the family member will get a huge windfall and all the lawyers will also.
I honestly wish the RRs would start suing these gate runners for damages to the equipment, rail structure, and the counseling costs for the crews.
So so sad. What could possibly be that important that caused the motorist to behave in such a reckless manner?
The driver’s action were arrogant, stupid, reckless, a form of child abuse, totally preventable, and a violation of the law. Assuming the driver had insurance, Metra should go after the cost of repairs. Crew and passengers should go after medical and loss of work costs. The public just does not understand what goes through the mind of an engineer or other rail employee when they see such an accident about to happen and the how they are haunted by the mental trauma. It is form of PTSD. Though not at fault, in many of these cases it is the railroad which ends up paying to settle resulting legal actions for which it is not to blame.
Michael: this occurred for the same reason people run stop signs and red lights at speed: the rules do not apply to me, I am going to live forever, “it” won’t happen to me. David Elkind wrote about these behaviors 40 years ago. He called them Myths of Adolescence, to explain risk taking behavior of juveniles. Alas, he was correct, but now adolescence is extending way beyond 16. Humans do not change behavior unless consequences are realized.
Michael Lampman – this was a short Metra commuter train, not a “PSR-monster” train. And waiting for a long train does not justify putting the lives of many others at risk simply due to the driver’s impatience.
Sadly, this may become more prevalent as motorists take more risks to avoid being stuck at a crossing by PSR-monster trains unheard of 5 years ago.
I will pray for the families of the deceased as well as the train crews, first responders, and witnesses. This is so sad for everyone involved.
This happened on the former Rock Island mainline about 2 miles southeast from where I grew up in the Beverly neighborhood. I happened to watch a WGN segment about this on YouTube last night. Interviewed witnesses said the engineer and conductor were beside themselves with grief. People who engage in such reckless behavior forget about the traumatic effects on the train crews, not to mention the needless, tragic death of a 5 year old child.
How sad.
Makes me wonder what Metra engineers think about the new equipment order that while being multi level does lower the cab to the main deck.
this is so terrible and so preventable.