(The following article by Justin Kmitch and Harry Hitzeman was posted on the Chicago Daily Herald website on December 3.)
CHICAGO — Several derailed freight train cars and another broken-down train caused traffic delays Wednesday afternoon at Roosevelt and Kautz Roads.
West Chicago Police Sgt. Eric Shipman said the empty box cars on the freight line derailed from the Union Pacific line spur around 3 p.m. near Kautz and Roosevelt Roads just south of the DuPage Airport.
The traffic on Kautz Road was blocked for about 20 minutes, said West Chicago Deputy Fire Chief Hugh Stott.
John Bromley, director of Union Pacific public affairs, said he did not know what caused the cars to derail.
The traffic problems were exacerbated by another freight train on the same line that broke down during the same period. Traffic along nearby Roosevelt Road was blocked and had to be rerouted for 90 minutes.
The area was cleared of both the derailed cars and the broken-down train by 4:15 p.m.
There were no injuries reported.
“There was no danger or threat to the community,” Shipman said.
Fines are possible when trains stop along the track and block roadway crossings, but are often waived if the train was experiencing a mechanical problem.
Police have not determined if they are going to issue a fine against Union Pacific.