Freight Train Collides with Semi at La Grange Crossing

A freight train collided with a semi-truck at La Grange Road station in La Grange, Illinois, last Friday afternoon (June 13), halting commuter rail service and drawing renewed attention to rail crossing safety in urban areas. The incident occurred around 1:52 p.m. and resulted in damage, though no injuries were reported.

What Happened

• A westbound BNSF freight train struck the rear of a northbound semi-truck trailer that was attempting to clear the tracks at the La Grange Road crossing.
• The impact pushed the trailer into nearby infrastructure, including a tree and a passenger shelter column.
• All three main lines were temporarily blocked, prompting extensive service delays on Metra’s commuter rail line.
• Emergency responders and clean-up crews spent several hours removing debris and clearing the tracks.

Caught on Camera

The crash was filmed by train enthusiast Ian Guzman, who happened to be recording as the collision occurred.

“I didn’t believe that I was seeing it, I was pretty scared, it was quite terrifying to watch,” Guzman said. “The truck … just came out of nowhere and got struck by the train.”

Guzman’s footage shows the semi-truck edging over the crossing moments before the train makes contact.

Response and Damage

The semi-truck driver, employed by Paschall Truck Lines (PTL), was uninjured. The truck’s cab had cleared the tracks by approximately 40 feet when the trailer was struck.

“The driver is perfectly fine,” said Eric Aycock, VP of Safety at PTL. “We are taking all proper steps … they are shaken up, but committed to safety.”

Cleanup efforts included hoisting the trailer off the tracks and removing wreckage such as twisted fencing, damaged signaling equipment, and debris from the shelter structure.

Operational Impact

• Metra service was suspended for several hours, with passengers advised to seek alternate transportation.
• As of today, the service is back up and running, though some delays persisted.

What’s Unclear

Authorities have not confirmed why the semi-truck entered the crossing while safety barriers, bells, and lights were active. The incident remains under investigation.

Source: Fox32 Chicago