Man dies after car hit by freight train in Harvey

A man died Monday afternoon after his car was hit by a freight train early Sunday while attempting to go around a down railroad crossing in south suburban Harvey.

About 3:30 a.m. Sunday, the car was going 46 mph and continued to drive around the crossing at 148th Street and Ashland Avenue, according to Harvey Fire Department Captain Ron DeYoung.

The train hit the vehicle, which flew about 30 feet, DeYoung said at the time. A victim was removed from the car fifteen minutes later, still breathing and with a pulse.

The victim, identified as 29-year-old John L. Ashby, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 2:51 p.m. Monday, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

An autopsy Tuesday revealed Ashby, who lived in the 2200 block of South Charles Road in Bellwood, died of multiple blunt force injuries he suffered in the crash, the medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled an accident.