Man sues Metra after losing arm in train accident

A man who had to have his arm amputated after he slipped and fell while boarding a Metra train last year in north suburban Morton Grove is suing the transit agency.

Miguel Flores filed the negligence lawsuit Friday in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging Metra failed to keep a proper lookout Nov. 16, 2013, when he became trapped under the train at the Morton Grove station.

The Milwaukee District / North Line train No. 2611 was stopped for about 15 minutes about 3:30 p.m. when a person crawled under the train, Metra said at the time.

Flores claims in the suit that after he slipped and fell, the train began to move, trapping his body.

Flores’ arm was subsequently amputated, the suit alleges.

Metra did not warn Flores before the train departed; did not keep a proper lookout; began to move while Flores was not in a position of safety; did not begin emergency stop procedures; and did not follow Metra’s “policy and procedure of a second look” when the train started moving, according to the suit.

Flores is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages.

The transit agency has not yet been served with the suit, said Metra spokesman Michael Gillis, who declined to comment on it Friday evening.