Pedestrian Killed by CSX Train; Railroad, Police Offer Contradictory Stories
(Blue Island, Illinois – May 7, 2011)
A pedestrian/train fatality occurring in south suburban Chicago Saturday after an unidentified man was struck by a train. The victim, in his 50’s, was found dead near CSX Railroad tracks at Chatham Avenue and Thornton Road in Blue Island. Officials agreed that the man’s death came as a result of being hit by a train, but answers as to “how” and “why” were more varied.
A CSX Railroad spokeswoman, Carla Groleau, said the accident occurred about 5:30 A.M., and involved the man being struck by a 71-car freight train being pulled by two locomotives, on its way from Nashville to Chicago. Later, it was claimed by police sources that the accident happened at 4:30 A.M., and that the victim was struck by a slow-moving switch engine during “an apparent suicide.” Investigations are still under way.
