(The following story by Maudlyne Ihejirika appeared on the Chicago Sun-Times website on March 27.)
CHICAGO — A collision between a commuter train and a locomotive sent 18 people to area hospitals with minor injuries Friday.
The accident occurred at 9 a.m. at the Ogilvie Transportation Center downtown.
Union Pacific Northwest No. 611, carrying 90 passengers, was just pulling out of the station headed to Crystal Lake when a locomotive with no cars attached backed into it, officials said. Union Pacific was investigating the incident.
“The operator of the train with passengers on board saw the locomotive backing up, and let all the air out of his brakes,” said Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet. “That certainly reduced the impact of what could have happened.”
Metra has been involved in four deadly accidents over the last five weeks involving people struck while crossing Metra tracks.
Officials were unclear why the operator of the locomotive — which had just refueled at a nearby train yard — didn’t see the train as both approached a switching point for 16 train tracks. Chicago Fire Department ambulances converged on the station at 511 W. Madison, taking people from the station on stretchers. Injuries were mostly bumps and bruises.