VIDEO VIEWER DISCRETION: Metra train crash with small SUV at Metra UP Northwest Line and Euclid Avenue after vehicle was dragged to Walnut/Ridge Avenue crossing.
Arlington Heights police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 2:32 PM Thursday to a report of vehicle crash with a train and fire and entrapment at Northwest Highway and Euclid Avenue Arlington Heights, IL. Police and firefighter/paramedics received a report that a vehicle was hit by a train at Northwest Highway and Euclid Avenue.
#BREAKING – @metra train strikes vehicle in Arlington Heights pic.twitter.com/wHVFxwTbQI
— Sam Unger (@SamUngerWGN) January 21, 2016
@WGNNews car on fire near arlington heights @metra station. Appears to have been hit by train pic.twitter.com/Zx6fM7XLhu
— Jim Lischett (@mijmania) January 21, 2016
Police and firefighter/paramedics arrived in the area and quickly discovered that the impact occurred at Northwest Highway and Euclid Avenue, but vehicle was dragged to the railroad crossing at Walnut/Ridge Avenue and caught fire.
Update: 1 dead after vehicle struck by @Metra train in Arlington Heights pic.twitter.com/mQPAF5PJGj
— Sam Unger (@SamUngerWGN) January 21, 2016
One person was trapped in the vehicle and died at the scene. The inbound train dragged the vehicle about 500 yards (five football fields) before coming to a stop just east of the grade crossing at Northwest Highway and Walnut/Ridge Avenue.
Arlington Heights Police Department Deputy Chief Andrew Whowell stated in an interview to media that the motorist was believed to have been traveling southeast on Northwest Highway and then turned right to head westbound on Euclid Avenue when the crash occurred.
All inbound and outbound trains were stopped in the area after inbound Metra train No. 646 was involved in the crash with the small SUV. One of the three tracks was reopened about 3:40 p.m. with an outbound Metra train slowly passing the crash scene. Passengers on train No. 646 were transferred to train No. 648, which was scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 4:23 p.m. train no. 648 was operating 30 to 40 minutes behind schedule.
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