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Palatine police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 7:34 a.m. Tuesday to a train vs. car crash near 7 East Palatine Road. Police and firefighters received a report that the trained dragged the vehicle past the Shell station. The crash impact occurred at Brockway Street and the vehicle was dragged about 1,000 feet to the Palatine Road crossing. The vehicle was reported to be northbound on Brockway Street before the crash with the Metra train. The first fire department crew arrived at 7:37 a.m. at the crash scene about 100 feet east of the Union Pacific railroad crossing and Palatine Road. Firefighter/paramedics immediately determined that the only occupant of the vehicle — a 1999 Mercury sedan — did not survive the crash. Trains were immediately ordered stopped in both directions by Palatine police and firefighter/paramedics.
The driver of the Mercury, identified as Michael Levgard of Palatine, was reported dead at the scene. His body was reported extricated about 8:00 a.m. after an extended extrication operation with a severely damaged vehicle. The victim’s body was released to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. An eastbound train would hit a northbound car on the driver’s side.
One passenger on the train required minor medical assistance and was released back to the Metra train after being seen by Palatine Fire Department Paramedics.
Eighteen members of the Palatine Fire Department, along with the Palatine Police and Metra officials assisted on the scene. A funeral home vehicle transported the victim that was killed away from the scene.
Metra Train #622 with morning commuter passengers aboard was involved in the crash. Metra Train #624 may have been stopped at the Palatine Metra station when Train #622 was passing through Palatine with no scheduled stops between Barrington and Des Plaines. The driver of the vehicle on Brockway Street, apparently ignored railroad signals and gates and drove across the tracks into the path of the express train.
The train sustained minor damage to the front car, which required maintenance before the train could be moved.
All tracks on the Metra Northwest Line were declared open at 10:30 a.m. with all trains in both directions restricted to 10 mph. The railroad tracks along the crash scene were inspected and swept after the crash.
Metra Service Advisory
Train #622, scheduled to arrive Chicago at 8:13 a.m., remains stopped in the vicinity of Palatine due to a grade crossing incident. The estimate time of delay is unknown. Updates will be posted as soon as information becomes available.
(Posted:12/27/2011 09:04 AM)Train #628, scheduled to depart Barrington at 7:42 a.m. and arrive Chicago at 8:36 a.m., is presently stopped at Barrington due to a grade crossing incident ahead at Patatine preventing trains to continue. The delay time is unknown and Metra suggests that alternate transportation be considered due to the potential duration of the delay ahead at Palatine.
(Posted:12/27/2011 07:52 AM)— Metra
For all updated service advisories from Metra, see the official Metra website …
Metra service advisory notices at the time of the crash operation …
Outbound Metra Train #611 was stopped at Des Plaines.
Outbound Metra Train #609 was operated at restricted speed past the accident site with an estimated 55 minute delay to Crystal Lake.
Inbound Metra Train #640 which is normally scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 11:23 a.m. was reported at about 10:27 a.m. Tuesday to have departed Harvard, and was expected to be about 55 minutes late. The train was later reported to have been terminated at Crystal Lake.
Inbound Metra Train #638 which is normally scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 10:23 a.m. was stopped near Barrington with no update as of 10:24 a.m.
Inbound Metra Train #636 which is normally scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 9:23 a.m. was stopped near Barrington with no update as of 10:24 a.m. Metra Train #636 was the train that crashed into a semi-trailer dump truck on May 13, 2011 in Mount Prospect (See The Cardinal Metra Passenger Train Crash Semi-Dump Truck at Northwest Highway and Mount Prospect Rd).
Inbound Metra Train #634 which is normally scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 8:55 a.m. was stopped near Barrington with no update as of 10:24 a.m.
Inbound Metra Train #632 which is normally scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 8:52 a.m. was stopped near Barrington with no update as of 10:24 a.m.
Inbound Metra Train #630 which is normally scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 8:41 a.m. was stopped near Barrington with no update as of 10:24 a.m.
An extra inbound train departed the Arlington Park station to service Chicago inbound passengers east of the crash site.
For all updated service advisories from Metra, see the official Metra website …
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