Wilmette man killed by Metra train was suicide, autopsy finds

SHARE Wilmette man killed by Metra train was suicide, autopsy finds

A 71-year-old man who was fatally struck by a Metra train Tuesday in northern suburb Wilmette committed suicide, an autopsy has found.

Brian Higgins, 71, was fatally struck by the northbound train at the Wilmette Avenue crossing just before 4 p.m., according to a statement from Wilmette police.

Union Pacific/North Line train No. 331 struck the pedestrian just south of the Wilmette station, Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said.

Witnesses told police he walked around lowered train gates, then stopped and stood still in front of the train, police said.

Higgins, of the 100 block of Maple Avenue in Wilmette, was dead at the scene, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy Wednesday found that Higgins suffered multiple injuries and ruled his death a suicide, the medical examiner’s office said.

Outbound UP/North trains were halted for about an hour during the evening rush, and some trains were canceled.

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