Arlington Heights police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 7:40 AM Thursday minivan vs. school bus crash at Wilke Road and the Union Pacific railroad tracks. A school bus was rear-ended by a minivan. The driver of the minivan was injured. No one on board the school bus was injured. The school bus was pushed into the train gate, but remained clear of the railroad tracks.
Railroad officials were immediately warned to proceed with caution, especially on the north side. Union Pacific replied that they wanted flares placed on the tracks two miles in either direction from the scene, but police on the scene re-iterated that there was no obstruction over the railroad tracks.
Union Pacific and Metra stopped trains in both directions until until the school bus was totally cleared from the area.
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HazMat Experts and Firefighters petition Dow Chemical and Union Pacific for safe rail tank cars transporting gas chlorine. Secondary containment is a necessary improvement that must be implemented. See–PETITION C KIT for First Responders Comments.