A woman was luckily uninjured after she was driving through a railroad crossing when her car was struck by a freight train near Huntley Thursday morning, authorities said.
The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts, Union Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 7:23 a.m. Thursday to the area of Seeman Road north of East Coral Road in Coral Township.
Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said it was reported that a vehicle had been struck by a freight train at the railroad crossing, which is located between Huntley and Union.
Fire crews arrived and were unable to locate the vehicle initially but did find debris consistent with a vehicle crash near the tracks, Vucha said.
A stopped freight train was visible west of the crossing.
A brief investigation and search led to the vehicle and its adult female driver being located near Union Road and Ernesti Road in Huntley.
“It is unclear how the vehicle arrived at that location,” Vucha said.
The driver was evaluated by Huntley Fire Protection District paramedics and declined additional medical treatment or transport to the hospital.
No injuries were reported by the Union Pacific train crew.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Communication Specialist Emily Matusek-Baker said the Union Pacific freight train was traveling northwest approaching Seeman Road.
The car, a Hyundai SUV, was traveling southbound on Seeman Road attempting to cross the railroad tracks.
The back end of the car was struck by the train, resulting in minor damage to the car, Matusek-Baker said.
The back bumper was cleanly ripped and the car’s airbags deployed.
It was not immediately known whether any citations or charges were issued to the driver.