Investigators say a 30-year-old Mundelein man appeared to have died by accident when he leaped from a moving Metra train before later being found on the tracks in Libertyville.
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.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the victim on Monday as Allen Chiquini, 30, of Mundelein.
The train came to a stop and the crew did not know whether they struck Chiquini or not because it was dark, Hill said.
Paramedics arrived and confirmed Chiquini was deceased at the scene.
Police investigated and determined that Train #2131 did not strike the victim, Hill said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene to take possession of Chiquini for an autopsy.
Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton told Lake and McHenry County Scanner in an update on Wednesday that Chiquini’s death appears to have been an accident.
Video evidence obtained showed that Chiquini boarded a previous train, which was possibly traveling in the opposite direction from where Chiquini intended to go.
Chiquini made his way to the rear of the train prior to arriving at the next stop and climbed over the barrier that blocks access to the outside, Newton said.
Newton said the man jumped off the train as it moved at a high rate of speed and suffered severe head injuries that caused his death.
Adrian Chiquini said her cousin’s death was “so unexpected” and “we all miss him so much.”
“We have no idea what we will do to take care of all the expenses. A little help is all we can pray for. Any and all donations, even in the form of prayer, are greatly appreciated,” she said.
A GoFundMe account has raised over $7,500 for the family’s unexpected memorial and burial expenses.
Metra said MD-N inbound and outbound train movement was halted near Libertyville due to the police investigation.
Hill said a total of seven trains were affected by the incident and extensive delays were reported.
The coroner’s office said toxicology is pending on Chiquini.