Train vs. Car Crash on the Rock Island Metra Line Kills At Least One Person
Oak Forest firefighter/paramedics and Oak Forest police responded just after 4:00 p.m. Thursday to a car vs. train collision near 167th and Oak Forest Avenue. Rescuers arrived to find a car struck by the train and dragged under the lead car of the train. Early reports indicate two people were killed when ejected from the personal car that collided with the train. The lead car was derailed, but was still upright at the scene. Metra passenger Train #420 was inbound with passenger cars leading the train, which was being pushed toward Chicago by the locomotive from behind. Train #420 left the Tinley Park Metra near Oak Park Avenue and was en route the Oak Forest Metra station near 159th and Cicero Avenue when the accident occurred. The car was destroyed beyond recognition (Facebook Radioman911 photo)
Metra Alerts
At 4:16 p.m. Metra reported that Train #420 scheduled to arrive Chicago at 4:33 p.m., is currently stopped near the Oak Forest Station, West of Central Avenue due to a grade crossing incident. The duration of this delay is unknown. Updates will follow.At 4:31 p.m. Metra reported that Train #407 scheduled to arrive Joliet at 5:00 p.m., is currently stopped at the Oak Forest Station due to a grade crossing incident in that area. The duration of the delay is unknown at this time.
The incident has brought an EMS Plan II response from area fire departments. Cooling buses are also responding to the scene. It is possible that there are no injuries or only minor injuries to train passengers. The EMS Plan called for evaluation of passengers, and as a precaution because of the number of people exposed to heat unexpectedly.
Fire departments from Matteson, Olympia Fields, Orland Park, Tinley Park and others assisted Oak Forest firefighter/paramedics.