
Police say two teenage boys were transported to the hospital and are “incredibly lucky” to be alive after a Metra train struck their car in Ingleside Sunday evening.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Fox Lake Fire Protection District responded around 8:10 p.m. Sunday to the area of 26200 block of West Ingleside Avenue in Ingleside for a report of a crash involving a train and car.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said deputies arrived to find a 2017 Toyota SUV had been struck by a Metra train.
The crash occurred at a railroad crossing along Ingleside Avenue west of Lakeview Avenue.
There are no stop arms at the crossing and traffic is controlled by a stop sign, Covelli said.
The driver of the Toyota, a 16-year-old boy of unincorporated Lake Villa, attempted to drive across the railroad tracks.
A Metra train was traveling northwest at the same time and struck the Toyota, Covelli said. The train was traveling approximately 40-50 mph.
The driver and the passenger, a 14-year-old Ingleside boy, were transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry for evaluation. Covelli said neither appeared to be injured.
The Toyota, which sustained severe front-end damage, was totaled.
“Had the Toyota been another foot or two forward on the tracks, this would have undoubtedly ended in tragedy, both boys are incredibly lucky,” Covelli said.
No one on the train was injured. The Metra Police Department is handling the investigation.