Illinois Teen Killed by Second, Hidden Train at Union Pacific Crossing
(Prairie du Rocher, Illinois – September 29, 2021)
A 16-year-old Red Bud High School student was killed after her vehicle was struck by a Union Pacific freight train at a double track crossing. The collision occurred at about 5:30 pm at the Duclos Street Crossing near Prairie du Rocher.
According to reports, Lilly was driving her 2013 Chevrolet Cruz and stopped to yield to a northbound freight train. Believing it was now safe to cross, immediately after that train passed, Lilly began to proceed over the crossing. However, unbeknownst to her, a second southbound freight train was traveling at a high rate of speed on a second track. The first freight train hid the view of the second train. Union Pacific demonstrate a daily average of sixty trains traverse the crossing at maximum speeds of 70 mph.
