Local Metra Commuters Delayed Hours After Man Killed by Train in Westmont

By Joe O'Donnell

Local commuters on Metra's Burlington Northern Santa Fe line were delayed several hours Thursday evening after a pedestrian was killed by a train.

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The 30-year-old male pedestrian was struck and killed by an eastbound train at the Cass Avenue crossing in Westmont during the evening commute at approximately 5:45 p.m. Thursday, police confirmed.

"The pedestrian was crossing the tracks at the grade crossing when he was struck by an eastbound Metra Rail Commuter train," according to a press release from Westmont Police Chief Thomas Mulhearn. "The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:03 p.m. by medical personnel from Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove via paramedics from the Westmont Fire Department."

The Naperville Sun is reporting that the train that hit the man was carrying an engineer and crew, but no passengers. 

Naperville, Aurora and Lisle passengers were on board other trains on the line, which were delayed several hours during the incident.

Thompson said "it's too early to make any calls" on what led to the collision. The identity of the victim is being withheld as family are notified. 

BNSF trains were halted until about 6:45 p.m., Mulhearn's release reads, and Cass Avenue traffic was detoured around the crossing until 8:30 p.m.

"This accident is currently under investigation by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Police, the DuPage County Coroners Office and this department," Mulhearn's release says. "This incident is being classified as a death investigation at this time."

Local BNSF passengers experienced delays throughout the night as a result, but as of 10:26 p.m. Thursday, there were no BNSF service advisories listed on Metra's website.