Video of Union Pacific, Hillside Towing and the Arlington Heights Police working the scene of a train and automobile collision on Northwest Highway Wednesday morning. [TROUBLE LOADING HIGH QUALITY? … NORMAL QUALITY HERE]
Arlington Heights Police were busy with multiple accidents, including a car versus train accident at the freight tracks across Northwest Highway, just east of Kensington Road after rush hour Wednesday. Two Union Pacific locomotives pushing one long flat car with freight into the industrial area near Recreation Park was struck by a Cadillac DeVille about 10 a.m. Wednesday at a crossing grade with elaborate warning lights but no gates. Paramedics checked on the woman driver, but she was not taken to the hospital. Hillside towing pulled the car away from the train and cleared it from the Northwest Highway so the train locomotives could push their load north into the industrial area. Minutes after police cleared that accident, another driver spun out onto the train tracks at Arlington Heights Road and Northwest Highway. Not long after that accident, a driver slid their car into the front of Citibank at Arlington Heights Road and Palatine Road. A large glass window was broken and some brick foundation was also damaged slightly. Structural experts were sent to the scene to check on the integrity of building.
Police command activated the accident plan about 6:00 a.m. when the number of accidents was unusually high, even for rush hour. Accidents were reported at Dundee and Ridge, Route 53 overpass over Palatine Road, Wilke and Northwest Highway and other locations. The accident on the Route 53 overpass involved an overturned van — managed by Palatine Fire Department, Arlington Heights Police Department and the Illinois State Police. Several spinouts were also reported Wednesday morning.