(The following appeared on the Chicago Sun-Times website on January 18, 2010.)
LEMONT, Ill. — A nun escaped injury when the Amtrak train struck the car she was driving Monday afternoon in southwest suburban Lemont.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said Texas Eagle train No. 22 struck an unoccupied vehicle in Lemont about 1 p.m. The train was en route to San Antonio, Texas, from Chicago, according to Amtrak’s Web site.
The motorist was a nun at the Sisters of St. Francis — Christ the King in Lemont. The order said the nun was “fine,” but would not provide further details.
Lemont police are investigating how the car got on the tracks, but a police spokesperson was not immediately available Monday night. It was not immediately known how the nun safely exited the vehicle.
No passengers or crew on the train were injured, said Magliari, who did not immediately know how many people were on board.
The crash delayed the train about three hours, Magliari said.