(The following appeared on the Chicago Sun-Times website on June 19, 2009.)
CHICAGO — A South Side man found dead along train tracks in Burnham might have been burglarizing train cars when he was killed, police said today.
Anthony M. Bernard, 31, of 2252 W. 54th Place, was found Wednesday lying between a set of tracks beneath the Torrence Avenue bridge, about 14300 South, Burnham police said.
Bernard died of multiple injuries from a train striking him, and his death was ruled an accident, according to an autopsy today. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 8:31 a.m. Wednesday, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Police believe train cars were being burglarized when Bernard was struck by the train. Bolt cutters, plastic bags and numerous cases of consumer goods were found near his body, police said.
The incident is under investigation by Burnham police, CSX railroad police and Illinois State Police.