BRAIDWOOD
– Police Monday were continuing their efforts to determine why an unidentified
man struck and killed by an Amtrak train late Sunday was on the railroad
tracks.
"It is unclear why the victim was on the tracks," said Acting
Braidwood Chief of Police Brandon Myers. "The matter is still under
investigation. At this point in time, there is no information that would allow
us to determine if this was a suicide or just an unfortunate accident."
Information was also still being sought as to the identity of the victim. An
autopsy was to be conducted Monday.
Braidwood officers were notified through their dispatch around 10:15 p.m.
Sunday that the engineer of an Amtrak train had struck debris on the tracks.
The engineer, at that time, speculated that it might have been a person lying
on the tracks.
Braidwood Fire Department personnel and police officers quickly responded to
the area one-quarter mile north of Illinois 113 in Braidwood and began a
search. As the officers searched the train tracks, it became evident the train
had, indeed, struck a person.
Braidwood Officer Allan Soucie immediately contacted Amtrak officials, as well
as Union Pacific officials, to stop train traffic along those tracks. Soucie
also called for assistance from the Will County Sheriff's Department Crime
Scene Unit and the Will County Coroner's Office.
Will County supplied a canine unit in order to search for additional debris in
an attempt to identify the male victim. No identification, however, was found.
The Amtrak train was en route to Chicago from St. Louis.
Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole told the Associated Press there were 105 passengers
on the train at the time. He says no passengers or crew members were injured.
The train was delayed until about 3:30 a.m. before continuing on to Chicago.
Daily Herald