Funeral services are set for a 77-year-old man, who was a U.S. Air Force veteran and leaves behind seven grandchildren, after he died when a Metra train slammed into his car following a multiple-vehicle crash in Barrington.
An autopsy performed Monday showed that Robert Scheurich, 77, of Carpentersville, died as a result of blunt force injuries as a result of a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Barrington Police Department and Barrington Fire Department responded around 11:45 a.m. Friday to the area of Route 14, also known as Northwest Highway, and Hart Road in Barrington for a report of a crash involving a train.
Emergency crews arrived and found multiple vehicles involved, along with a Metra train.
The crash occurred along the Union Pacific Northwest line between the Barrington and Fox River Grove Metra stations.
One of the cars, a red Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Scheurich, was struck by the train. It sustained major damage and came to rest off the road.
Police officers at the scene indicated that a three-vehicle crash occurred and then the Chevrolet was subsequently struck by the Metra train.
A woman who witnessed the incident told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that she was “traumatized” by what happened.
She said the three-vehicle crash involved a truck, the red sedan and a black BMW. The occupants got out of their vehicles and began arguing when suddenly the train bell started ringing.
The truck and the black BMW began moving out of the way but the red sedan was directly in front of the truck and could not move in time, which resulted in the train crashing into it and throwing the car into the railing and then downhill into an embankment, she said.
Paramedics transported Scheurich to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington in unknown condition, Metra spokeswoman Meg Thomas-Reile said.
Police radio traffic indicated Scheurich was initially conscious at the hospital but his condition worsened during the day.
Banek said that Scheurich was moved to the intensive care unit and died in the hospital around 9 p.m. Friday.
Scheurich was born in Chicago and a lifelong resident of the area. He graduated from high school in Elgin and then “proudly served” his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam era, his obituary said.
Scheurich later worked as a “loyal and valued” employee of Otto Engineering in Carpentersville for more than 20 years before retiring.
His obituary said he had an appreciation for Chevrolet Corvettes and was a proud Corvette owner and member of the Sunrise Corvette Club.
“He was also an avid golfer and a longtime member of the Golf League at Bonnie Dundee Golf Club. Whether enjoying time on the golf course, sharing his enthusiasm for Corvettes, or simply being with the people he cared about, Bob treasured the friendships and memories he made throughout his life,” his obituary said.
Train #623 was outbound when it struck the vehicle, Thomas-Reile said, adding that extensive delays were reported.
All train traffic was initially halted but inbound trains were back on the move around 1 p.m.
Train #623 remained stopped at the scene until it was released around 2:30 p.m. The train appeared to have sustained minor front-end damage.
No injuries were reported to any crew or passengers on the train.
Scheurich’s obituary said he leaves behind a fiancée, three sons and seven grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at Miller Funeral Home in West Dundee from 4-8 p.m. Friday. Services will be held at 7 p.m.
The Barrington Police Department is investigating the initial crash and the Metra Police Department is investigating the subsequent train crash.