(The following story by Dave Newbart appeared on the Chicago Sun-Times website on May 26.)
CHICAGO — An 11-year-old Glenview boy died after he was struck Tuesday by a Metra train that witnesses said hit him when he rode his bike around crossing gates, according to officials.
The boy, Victor Olivera, was airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he died, officials said.
It was the 14th death this year involving Metra trains, including a string of deaths of young people.
Officials said the accident occurred at 3:15 p.m. on Glenview Road, just south of the Glenview station on the Milwaukee District North Line headed for Fox Lake.
Friends said Victor stopped at a local ice cream shop and might have been rushing to a dentist appointment when he tried to beat the train. But Victor ignored warnings a train was coming, Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said.
“Witnesses indicated he rode his bike around the gate and struck the side of the train,” said Pardonnet. All signals, lights and gates were operating properly.
The engineer, who was slowing the train as it reached the station, saw the boy and attempted to make an emergency stop — but it was too late, she said.
A “cow catcher” in front of the train struck the bike, which went under the train. Victor hit the side of the train and fell off.
Witnesses said the engineer left the train and searched for a pulse in the boy. In critical condition, he appeared conscious before he was taken to the hospital, a witness said. There he underwent emergency surgery, according to a statement from Glenview police.
Police would not comment further, and the department’s statement did not indicate whether the boy rode his bike around the gates as Pardonnet suggested.
Metra officials said the boy’s mother was at the scene of the accident, but it was unclear whether she saw the train hit her son.
Victor attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Glenview, just down the street from where he was killed. He played football and baseball, said a parish parent. His death was devastating to the community, she said.
“Everyone is totally blown away. It’s a very, very close parish,” said the woman, who asked not to be named. “He’s a really sweet kid, a good kid.”
Victor played for the Marlins in the Glenview Youth Baseball League’s Bronco-11 division. His team’s game and another game were canceled Tuesday afternoon because so many players knew him.
“The children didn’t want to play,” said Tami Brubaker, president of the league. “Our hearts and prayers go out to his family.”
About three dozen mourners gathered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church for an hourlong memorial service Tuesday evening.
Last year, there were 24 deaths involving Metra trains, including 11 suicides. This year’s toll includes one teen from Villa Park, whose death was ruled a suicide, and the deaths of another 14-year-old girl struck on Chicago’s Southwest Side and a 10-year-old boy killed in River Grove.
On Wednesday, some trains were delayed more than an hour after the accident, Metra officials said.