A person was killed early Friday after being struck by a Metra commuter train near Northwest Highway in Palatine, shutting down a key rail crossing and snarling the morning commute on the Union Pacific Northwest line.
Metra Confirms Fatal Strike
According to CBS News Chicago, Metra reported that Union Pacific Northwest train No. 602 hit a pedestrian at the Baldwin Road and Northwest Highway crossing at about 5:10 a.m. The person was pronounced dead at the scene, and Metra temporarily suspended service on the UP-NW line while crews handled the incident.
Recent Pattern On The UP-NW Line
This collision is the latest in a string of deadly pedestrian strikes on the Union Pacific Northwest corridor. A June 1 fatality in Arlington Heights also brought trains to a halt and triggered an investigation, as reported by the Daily Herald. In February, NBC Chicago covered another collision near Mount Prospect that similarly disrupted service.
Rider Impacts And Investigation
Metra told CBS News Chicago that the victim had not yet been identified and that investigators remained at the scene. Trains were held while police and Metra personnel examined the tracks, cleared the area and worked to restore operations. Officials did not immediately release additional details about how the collision occurred.
What Commuters Should Know
Riders are being urged to monitor Metra service alerts and the agency’s social media feeds before heading out and to plan for residual delays on the UP-NW line as crews wrap up work. NBC Chicago has previously noted that Metra posts real-time updates on its UP-NW account during incidents like this. Authorities say they will release more information as the investigation continues.
