The body of a male subject was found on the railroad tracks in Libertyville, causing extensive delays on Metra’s Milwaukee District North line Friday evening, officials said.
The Libertyville Police Department, Libertyville Fire Department and Metra Police Department responded around 5:30 p.m. Friday to the area of Ellis Avenue and Winchester Road for a report of an unresponsive person.
The crew from Train #2131, which was outbound from Chicago, spotted a body along the train tracks, according to Metra spokesperson Martha Hill.
The train came to a stop and the crew did not know whether they struck the person or not because it was dark, Hill said.
Paramedics arrived and confirmed the male subject was deceased at the scene.
Police investigated and determined that Train #2131 did not strike anyone, Hill said. The Lake County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene to collect the person for an autopsy.
Metra said MD-N inbound and outbound train movement was halted near Libertyville due to the ongoing police investigation.
Hill said a total of seven trains were affected by the incident, which is currently classified as a death investigation.
Extensive delays were reported and customers wishing to travel past Lake Forest were told to seek alternate transportation as extensive delays were reported.
The coroner’s office is working to identify the victim and an autopsy is in the process of being scheduled.
Hill said it is still unknown whether the male was struck by a different train or died unrelated to being hit by a locomotive.
The coroner’s office was almost done removing the body as of 8:30 p.m. and train movement was expected to be going back to normal operations, Hill added.