(The following report by Jason Meisner and Lisa Black appeared on the Chicago Tribune website on September 10.)
CHICAGO — Moments before a car stuck on tracks in north suburban Glenview was hit by two Amtrak trains Saturday night, three local teenage boys helped pull the driver from the vehicle, authorities said.
No injuries were reported.
The accident occurred about 8:30 p.m. after an 83-year-old woman’s Lexus became stuck on the tracks at the Chestnut Street crossing, officials said.
The three teens, who attend Glenbrook South High School, were identified as senior Tom Foust, 17, and sophomores, Tyler Brown, 16, and Zach Demertzis, 16.
Hiawatha train No. 342 heading from Milwaukee to Chicago hit the car and pushed it into the path of another Hiawatha train traveling north to Milwaukee, Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said.
The driver of the car was able to get out in time and was not injured. None of the 85 passengers and crew on the two trains was injured, Connell said. The speed limit for trains moving through the area is 79 mph, but it was not known how fast the trains in the accident were traveling, Connell said.
(Tribune staff reporter Kristen Kridel contributed to this report.)