Woman Walks Away Unharmed from Train vs. SUV Collision

Hinsdale Police are investigating the cause of a car vs. train accident that occurred around 7:22 a.m. Monday, when an unoccupied sport utility vehicle was struck by an outbound commuter train at the Lincoln Crossing and the Burlington Northern Railroad.

According to a police news advisory, a 53-year-old Burbank woman was driving her 2004 Nissan Murano SUB southbound on Lincoln Street and was approaching the grade when the warning devices at the crossing were activated. Police said that the driver disobeyed the signals and stopped beyond the gate stop line.

The driver was able to get of the vehicle when she saw the approaching train to avoid being hit. The train hit the front of the SUV, spinning it off the tracks.

“There was no indication that the vehicle was disabled causing it to be stuck on the tracks,” Deputy Police Chief Mark Wodka said. “She stopped beyond the stop line at the warning devices at the railroad gate.”

The SUV was off the tracks within the hour and towed away, police said.

There no reported injuries at the scene and no one was transported to the hospital. The driver was the only occupant inside the Murano, Wodka said.

No other passengers were in the SUV besides the driver, Wodka said.

The outbound train had left Chicago at approximately 7:01 a.m. and was scheduled to make its next stop in Downers Grove, Metra spokesman Tom Miller said.

Outbound trains during the morning rush were delayed up to 50 minutes. Miller said that trains leaving Chicago should be back on schedule by early afternoon.

Hinsdale police are still investigating the accident. No citations have been issued to the driver at this time.