An elderly woman will not be charged after police say she inadvertently drove into a railroad gate and her SUV was hit by a Metra train in Fox River Grove at the same crossing where the 1995 bus-train crash occurred.
The Fox River Grove Police Department and Fox River Grove Fire Protection District responded around 10:59 a.m. Monday to the area of Route 14, also known as Northwest Highway, and Algonquin Road for a report of a train crash.
Fox River Grove Fire Protection District Spokesperson Alex Vucha said firefighters and officers arrived within minutes to find an inbound Metra commuter train stopped across the intersection.
A mid-sized SUV was found on the north side of the tracks with moderate damage after a collision with the train.
The elderly female driver, who was the sole occupant, had exited the vehicle prior to the arrival of emergency personnel and was complaining of minor injuries, Vucha said.
Firefighters worked alongside police to manage the scene and ensure the safety of those nearby.
The Cary Fire Protection District and Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District were also called to assist but soon canceled.
Vucha said the female driver of the Lexus SUV was evaluated at the scene by paramedics and transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington with minor injuries.
The train crew and passengers were not injured in the incident.
Rail traffic was halted for an extended period while the scene was investigated and a tow truck was called to remove the car.
Metra said that the crash involved Union Pacific Northwest line Train #646.
The train was scheduled to arrive Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago at 12:10 p.m.
The Metra Police Department responded to the scene to assist in investigating the cause of the crash.
Metra spokesperson Meg Reile said Wednesday that the 85-year-old driver told officers that she had stopped her car at the crossing when the gates went down.
Her foot came off the brake and the car rolled forward. She possibly also hit the gas pedal trying to regain control of the brake pedal, Reile said.
The Lexus struck the gate and crossed mostly over the tracks when the train struck the rear driver’s side of the vehicle.
Reile said the Lexus spun around and the vehicle came to rest off the roadway facing the opposite direction it was initially traveling.
The woman was fortunately not severely injured, Reile said, adding that video evidence matched the woman’s account of events.
The driver will not be charged as it appears she did not purposely disregard the railroad gate.
Metra has ordered the woman to go to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office for a driving test.
The incident occurred at the same intersection as the October 1995 bus-train crash that left seven students dead and another 24 injured.
“The incident occurred at the same intersection as the 1995 bus-train crash that deeply impacted our community,” Fox River Grove Fire Chief Robert Kreher said.
“Thankfully, this was a relatively low-speed impact, and we’re grateful the outcome tonight was not more serious,” Kreher said.
All fire department crews cleared the scene within approximately 45 minutes, while police and railroad officials remained at the scene to continue their investigation and inspect the tracks.
Metra said inbound and outbound train movement was restored around 12:45 p.m. but extensive delays were reported as service returned to normal.