Last Saturday night, a collision between a Metra train and a vehicle caused significant disruptions to the Union Pacific Northwest Line near Arlington Heights. The incident occurred shortly after 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Arlington Heights Road and Northwest Highway. A Metra UP-Northwest train tragically struck a vehicle, resulting in service interruptions and road closures, as per information from NBC Chicago.
An unidentified man, who was in his car at the time of the collision, sustained critical injuries and was consequently transported to Lutheran General Hospital. Metra officials reported that Train No. 725 was not operating past Cumberland, and Train No. 732 was not running between Harvard and Mount Prospect due to the accident. The Arlington Heights Road was shut down in both directions at Northwest Highway as officials attended to the scene, according to WGN-TV.
Passengers on the train experienced delays, and at least one was transported to an area hospital, although further details on their condition or additional injuries have not been disclosed. Both inbound and outbound trains were halted on the line until late evening, significantly affecting the weekend commutes of many.
Service on the Metra UP-Northwest line resumed later in the evening, as Metra posted on social media shortly before 9:45 p.m. that trains were moving again. Even though the trains were operational, riders were warned to expect further delays while normal service gradually returned. The cause of the collision has yet to be disclosed as investigations continue.
