Mount Prospect Police Department responded about 4:33 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2023 to a report that a bicycle was struck by outbound Metra commuter train #637 at the Union Pacific Railroad Crossing at Emerson Street near Prospect Avenue in downtown Mount Prospect. Upon arrival, police officers located an uninjured 11 year-old juvenile from Mount Prospect who had been riding the bicycle. Mount Prospect police officers learned during the investigation that the juvenile was riding along Prospect Avenue approaching Emerson Street. At that time, the train gates were down and the warning devices were activated as an inbound Metra commuter train was clearing the crossing. The juvenile turned right to travel north on Emerson Street, and then rode around the lowered train gates. However, an outbound commuter train was entering the crossing on the southernmost track. The engineer activated the train horn and the juvenile was able to jump off the bike and get clear of the train, prior to it striking the bicycle. The juvenile was not injured.
Metra police were also assigned to the scene, and Union Pacific crews were also assigned to inspect the railroad tracks and the crossing gates. The railroad crossing at Emerson Street north of Prospect Avenue was blocked during the investigation, which continued until approximately 6:45 PM.
The juvenile’s parents arrived immediately to pick up the juvenile.
The Mount Prospect Police Department is asking the Mount Prospect community to use this incident to talk about railroad crossing safety with loved ones, especially children. When the red warning lights are flashing and the train gates are down, it means a train is coming into the crossing. Never pass flashing lights or go around lowered gates. Always wait until lights have stopped flashing and gates are completely raised. Disobeying the gates and signals is dangerous and illegal. And just like cars on a street, trains on the tracks run in both directions. When one passes, another may be coming on a different track. It is important to look in both directions and listen carefully before crossing. Please remember, “See Tracks? Think Trains!” More train safety information can be found on the Operation Lifesaver website (oli.org)
Inbound and outbound traffic on the Metra line was delayed and some trains were canceled because of the train crash with the bicycle.
Metra Alert UP-NW – Inbound and outbound train movement has been halted near Mt. Prospect, train #637 striking a bicycle
— Metra UP-NW (@metraUPNW) April 18, 2023
Metra Alert UP-NW – Train #651 scheduled to depart Chicago Ogilvie Transportation Center, at 5:05 PM, will not operate due to train 637 striking bicycle. Train 649 will be the next train making all scheduled stops to Des Plaines.
— Metra UP-NW (@metraUPNW) April 18, 2023
Metra Alert UP-NW – Inbound and outbound trains may be operating 30 to 45 minutes behind schedule, striking a bicycle
— Metra UP-NW (@metraUPNW) April 18, 2023
Metra Alert UP-NW – Train #672, scheduled to arrive Ogilvie Transportation Center at 9:10 PM, may be operating with an extensive delay, problems with dispatching department and earlier train striking a bicycle
— Metra UP-NW (@metraUPNW) April 19, 2023
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
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