Chicago Illinois Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to the Chicago Tribune, in a November 17 article titled "Passing train knocks worker from high-lift cherry picker", there was a construction site accident yesterday as a passing freight train hit a construction crew working on the underside of a bridge at around 3:15 a.m. The accident occurred on the I-80 overpass near the Des Plaines River.

An excerpt from the story:

A passing freight train early this morning hit a construction crew working on the underside of a Joliet overpass, throwing one worker in a high-lift cherry picker about 80 feet to the ground, officials said.

Continue reading "Construction Workers Injured By Passing Freight Train In Joliet Illinois" »

A fatal train/pedestrian accident occurred yesterday in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The accident occurred on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line to Aurora.

According to Downers Grove police officials, preliminary information indicates that a woman was walking south on Main Street at approximately 6:58 p.m. She walked around lowered railroad crossing gates and behind a stopped eastbound train. At that point, she was fatally struck by a commuter train that was traveling westbound on the center tracks.

Continue reading "Downers Grove Illinois Fatal Train/Pedestrian Accident" »

A 27 year old woman has died Wednesday night in a train accident involving the Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line between the Arlington Park and Palatine stops, according to officials.

Details at this time appear limited; however, investigators say the Palatine woman appeared to have run out on the tracks. The accident happened around 9:35 p.m.

Additional details can be found in the September 1 Chicago Tribune story titled "Woman killed by Metra UP Northwest Line train."

A lawsuit and countersuit have been filed regarding the June 24 train accident involving an Amtrak train and truck in Nevada that killed six people. The accident is recalled in the June 26 CBS story titled "Death toll from Amtrak crash raised to 6."

A lawsuit has been filed by Amtrak regarding the accident. As seen in the CBS Local story of June 30 titled "Amtrak Files Suit Against Trucking Company":

Following the lead of an injured onboard attendant, Amtrak is suing a Nevada trucking company for at least $10 million for negligence in the hiring and training of a driver who slammed a tractor-trailer into the side of a passenger train last week, killing six.

also:

The new lawsuit said John Davis Trucking is liable for at least $10 million in damages suffered by Amtrak because it failed to properly train "or failed to train altogether" the driver before he crashed into the train, even as the crossing gates and flashing warning lights showed it was approaching.

also:

Amtrak's lawsuit alleges the company "negligently hired Valli and diligently entrusted the vehicle to Valli, who it knew or should have known was incompetent and/or unqualified to operate the Peterbilt tractor trailer combination."

The trucking company has filed a countersuit. As seen in the July 31 WGN story titled "Nevada trucking firm countersues Amtrak, Union Pacific in June crash" :

John Davis Trucking Co. says the companies did not adequately warn drivers of oncoming traffic.

The trucking company also claims the railroad companies breached their duties "by allowing trains to accelerate in the approach to the grade crossing."

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John Davis Trucking's countersuit seeks unspecified damages and accident-related expenses.

At least two people were killed today after a Metra Train struck an automobile in Oak Forest, Illinois. The accident occurred around 4:00 p.m.

Details are still forthcoming, but it has been reported that the accident took place after a Rock Island District Metra Train struck an automobile in Oak Forest near the train station and subsequently derailed.

The accident happened at the crossing at 167th Street and Central Avenue when inbound Joliet train No. 420 (Rock Island District Metra) struck the vehicle, according to a Metra spokeswoman.

During the accident the automobile was dragged several hundred feet down the tracks. One of the train's cars subsequently derailed.

37 trains were delayed as a result of the collision, mostly from downtown Chicago.

Southbound trains resumed on a single track shortly after 6 p.m.

Additional details and photos can be seen in the July 21 NBC5 story titled "Two Dead After Metra Train, Car Collide."