Illinois Truck Driver Killed and Metra Train Derailed at Dangerous, Unguarded Railroad Crossing
(Hainesville, Illinois – May 23, 2022)
A 41-year-old local dump truck driver was killed last Monday morning when his vehicle was struck by a Metra train. The collision occurred at the Milwaukee District North Metra railroad crossing at Hainesville Road and Centre Drive. Along with the death of the truck driver, there was an injured passenger inside the front passenger car of the two Metra locomotives.
The Metra railroad crossing where this collision occurred has been the site of two prior collisions. Yet, this dangerous railroad crossing is narrowly paved and not guarded with any active warning devices, such as lights and gates.
Metra claims that since the road is private, it will likely remain unprotected by any active warning devices. It appears, however, that it is only a matter of time before another tragic collision at this dangerous crossing considering there are about 46 passenger trains per day that traverse this crossing.
It is very likely that the addition of lights and gates could have prevented this tragedy and the two prior collisions. Metra and Operation Lifesaver know that lights and gates are the most effective type of protection at railroad crossings. Studies that have been conducted over fifty years ago confirm that lights and gates offer the ability to drastically reduce the number of vehicle/train collisions by as much as 96%.
The Grayslake/Hainesville police departments are still investigating the collision.
