Woman fatally struck by cargo train in NW Indiana

A woman died after she was struck by a freight train last week in northwest Indiana.

Lydia Johnston, 76, was walking southbound on Jackson Boulevard and crossing the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in Chesterton, Indiana, about 3 p.m. June 22 when she was hit by a passing train, according to a statement from Chesterton police.

Johnston was taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary, Indiana, where she was pronounced dead at 3:48 p.m., according to police and the Lake County coroner’s office.

Johnston, who lived in the 0-100 block of Franklin Street in Porter, Indiana., died from blunt-force trauma and her death was ruled an accident, authorities said.

The Norfolk-Southern cargo train was traveling eastbound from Chicago carrying 56 cargo containers, police said. Witnesses told investigators the crossing arms were down and the crossing bells and train horn were activated at the time of the accident.