GENEVA, Ill. – A 49-year-old man from Yorkville was killed on Friday after being hit by a freight train in Geneva. His identity has not been released pending family notification.
According to authorities, the victim and two other men exited a Metra train on the south side of the tracks before attempting to cross to the north side, where their car was parked. The emergency guardrail arms were down at the time, but the trio went underneath them to reach their vehicle. While the two men made it safely across, the Yorkville man was struck by an eastbound freight train on the north track.
The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. at the Third Street crossing in downtown Geneva, which is located just feet away from a popular strip of restaurants. Several customers at the restaurants witnessed the accident and were left horrified.
As a result of the collision, the freight train blocked both the Third Street and Western Avenue grade crossings. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Authorities are reminding the public to always obey warning signals at railroad crossings and to never attempt to cross the tracks when the guardrails are down.
