Good Samaritan rescues woman before Metra train strikes vehicle in Western Springs

(WESTERN SPRINGS) An elderly woman was pulled from her vehicle before it was struck by a Metra train Monday evening in Western Springs, causing “extensive” delays on the BNSF line.

At 5:17 p.m., the 80-year-old woman driving southbound on Wolf Road turned eastbound onto the railroad tracks, and her vehicle got stuck, according to Western Springs Police Sgt. John Piest.

A good Samaritan pulled the woman from the vehicle, but the door was left open and was subsequently struck by the train, Piest said.

Train No. 1257, scheduled to arrive at Route 59 in Aurora at 5:40 p.m., struck the vehicle at 5:20 p.m., according to Metra spokesman Michael Gillis.

The woman was taken to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital in La Grange, where she was treated and released, Piest said.

As of 7:06 p.m., all trains on the BNSF line were on the move, but running upwards of 90 minutes behind schedule as a result of the crash, according to Metra.

In an effort to prevent overcrowding at Union Station, Metra was advising BNSF passengers to proceed to a loading/staging area prior to boarding.