This morning, I witnessed a serious accident involving a Metra train and a dump truck at the intersection of Mount Prospect Road and Northwest Highway in Mount Prospect. As soon as the authorities were informed, both the Mount Prospect and Des Plaines Fire Departments established a unified command to manage the situation. The collision caused part of the train to derail and catch fire approximately a quarter-mile further down the tracks in Des Plaines.
The unfortunate driver of the dump truck did not survive the crash, and while many train passengers were transported to nearby hospitals with various degrees of injury, none were critically injured. However, the engineer sustained severe injuries. An EMS Box Alarm was quickly called in, and as more passengers reported medical concerns, the alarm escalated to a third alarm and eventually to a fifth alarm. Additionally, a PACE bus was dispatched to help transport some patients who were categorized as 'green'—meaning they had non-life-threatening conditions. Ambulances from Divisions 1, 3, and 20 also arrived to assist.
I took some photos of the aftermath, capturing the dramatic derailment of the first train car and the extensive damage to the dump truck. The front car of the train ended up about 200 yards east of Mount Prospect Road, with significant damage above the lower row of windows. Fuel from the overturned dump truck spread across the train cars and ignited, causing additional damage to the first two cars.
According to the Chicago Tribune, all the train cars remained upright during the incident, but at least 29 passengers were sent to hospitals, and another 10 were treated on site. Union Pacific confirmed that the crossing gates were functioning correctly at the time of the collision. A spokesperson suggested that the driver may have ignored the gates and even disregarded a "No Left Turn" sign, ultimately positioning himself directly on the tracks as the train approached.
It seems there have been similar incidents at this very intersection nearly a decade ago. The truck involved in today's accident was carrying concrete and managed to bypass the northern gate, leaving the cab dangerously positioned on the tracks. The trailer and cab of the truck folded over like a jackknife upon impact, with the trailer making contact with the train cars.
Photographers Tim Olk and Larry Shapiro were present at the scene, capturing numerous images of the wreckage. One image highlights the devastation from a southeast perspective of Mount Prospect Road, while another provides a broader view of the intersection showing the extent of the accident. Other shots focus on the destroyed truck, the scattered concrete, and the train cars as they came to rest further down the tracks.
I’ve also come across radio traffic recordings from the incident, which provide additional context to the chaos and coordination required during such emergencies. Tim has shared his footage online [link], and Larry has uploaded a collection of his photos [link]. This event underscores the importance of safety measures at railway crossings and the critical role of emergency responders in managing these complex situations.
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