No injuries were reported after a police car was struck by a Metra train near Grand Avenue and Railroad Avenue in Lake Villa on Friday. | Photo: Google Street View.

Authorities say that a police squad car was struck by a Metra train after the officer attempted to drive around the crossing gate in Lake Villa Friday evening.

Lake Villa Police Chief Rochelle Tisinai said in a statement to Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the crash happened around 5:45 p.m. Friday.

A Lake Villa police officer was responding to an emergency call and stopped for a southbound freight train on Grand Avenue at Railroad Avenue.

“When the train cleared, the officer didn’t realize another train was coming and started to drive forward,” Tisinai said.

The front end of the squad car was then struck by a northbound Metra train.

Tisinai said the crossing gates were down when the officer attempted to cross the tracks.

The Lake Villa Fire Protection District responded to the scene. The officer along with passengers and crew members on the train were uninjured.

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The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was called to conduct an independent investigation into the crash.

Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile said the Metra train was only stopped at the crossing for approximately 12 minutes following the incident and no major delays were reported.