Man killed when Amtrak train strikes vehicle in Somonauk

A man was killed when an Amtrak train struck a vehicle in far west suburban Somonauk Sunday afternoon.

About 3 p.m., the 28-year-old man at the wheel of the car drove north around lowered gates at the Green Street crossing and was struck by westbound California Zephyr Train No. 5, according to Somonauk police. The village is about 25 miles southwest of Aurora.

The train pushed the vehicle about half a mile down the tracks before coming to a stop, Somonauk fire officials said.

The man, identified as Joshua Wilson of Sandwich, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Somonauk officials and the DeKalb County coroner’s office.

None of the 248 passengers or nine crew members aboard the train were hurt, according to Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.

The train continued on its route to Emeryville, California by about 7 p.m. following repairs and re-crewing, Magliari said.

The death remains under investigation by Somonauk police, the DeKalb County sheriff’s office and the DeKalb County coroner’s office.