An Amtrak train from Chicago hit a garbage truck en route to its destination that resulted in seven train accident injuries. The truck drivers and five passengers were sent to a hospital for their injuries. Luckily, nobody was killed in the train accident. The video shows what a train accident looks like up close from a bystander perspective.
In the span of only three days there have been two Chicago, Illinois CTA related deaths. In what initially may have been thought of as freak accidents there is an alarming trend with deaths and personal injuries from Chicago, Illinois Chicago Transit Authority transportation. Protections, either in the form of emergency shut-off devices for trains or extra security guards, need to be put in place near CTA “L” stops to prevent accidents. The first accident occurred Monday on the CTA blue line. The most recent accident occurred yesterday on the CTA red line. In both CTA “L” train accidents the pedestrians were killed. Investigations continue into both CTA train car accidents. In addition to Chicago, Illinois trains other forms of public transit are also under scrutiny. In recent weeks Chicago, Illinois PACE buses which provide transportation to Chicago, Illinois suburbs have also been in the spotlight due to a PACE bus accident which injured four pedestrians. Additionally, Chicago Metra trains which provide service within Chicago and to the suburbs have also been under attack. Train accidents have occurred both at train and car intersection accidents, train accidents hitting pedestrians and one train accident caused death and injury to a rider on the train. As gas prices soar in Chicago, Illinois, residents are using public transportation as an alternative to personal cars. Despite the financial savings from the public transit system residents may be willing to put more cash into the pump rather than ride on the Chicago, Illinois, CTA, PACE, or Metra due to the increasing number of accidents. Negligent bus drivers, Negligent CTA operators and negligent Metra conductors may deter residents from using public transit and opting instead to use cars even though fuel prices are high. CTA has not made any official statement regarding the recent wave of CTA related deaths but it is expected that a press release will soon be made public. As Chicago, Illinois residents remain puzzled about the unexpected CTA deaths one thing is sure safety measures need to be increased to prevent more innocent pedestrians, riders and travelers from experiencing personal injuries and death. To read about the most recent CTA red line train accident click here.
A pedestrian struck by a Metra train passed away from injuries sustained in the accident Monday evening. The train, which left Chicago at about 6:40 pm struck the man at about 7:00 pm. There is no word yet whether the train operator is liable or if the man contributed.
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Another Chicago, Illinois CTA accident occurred early yesterday morning. This time the CTA blue line was the sight of the CTA “L” accident. A man was hit by a CTA train car, Chicago, Illinois police are currently investigating the most recent CTA accident. Over the summer several fatalities have occurred when people were hit by CTA trains and CTA cars. The most recent incident according to witnesses occurred when the man jumped in front of the CTA car. Hopefully the CTA will implement stricter security and new ways to avoid such tragedies. After a wave of CTA accidents, CTA car accidents and CTA pedestrian accidents some changes need to be made. It is unlikely that the CTA blue line will be the last accident sight of its kind this summer. To read the full story click here.
A train accident that left one man dead after being run over by a train has lead to a train accident lawsuit. The widow of the deceased victim has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent train owner. The wrongful death lawsuit claims damages for pain and suffering, medical care and funeral expenses. The suit filed in Chicago, Illinois Cook County alleged that the negligent railroad company failed to sound horns to alert the man who was on the tracks. To read the full story click here.
Monday evening, a car filled with the driver and 2 passengers drove around a railroad warning gate and was struck by the crossing freight train. The train, traveling from Chicago, Illinois, hit the Ford Taurus in the early evening at a crossing which has gates, lights, and flashers. After ignoring both the warning gate and lights, as well as the train’s horn, the driver drove onto the tracks resulting in the accident in which the car was pushed approximately 175 feet. The passengers were ejected, but the driver became trapped in the car; all three died from the automobile accident. The crew of the train were uninjured. The families of the two passengers may have a wrongful death claim against the driver for negligently crossing the warning gates. Read more here.
Another CTA accident occurred in Chicago, Illinois where a car crashed into a CTA “L” platform. The car exploded and the woman suffered severe burn injuries and was not able to survive the car accident. Two other men who were in the car accident suffered serious injuries and were taken to the hospital. CTA accidents have occurred in large numbers in recent weeks. Previously a car hitting an “L” platform caused personal injuries and death to a woman who was near a Chicago, Illinois Red Line station. To read the story and see a map of where the accident occurred, click here.
A woman was killed by a freight train run by Union Pacific in Berwyn, Illinois on Sunday. The woman was reportedly using a walker and was struck by the train, which was using one of Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad’s lines. The Burlington railroad’s spokesman said that the accident occurred Sunday afternoon at the Oak Park Avenue crossing in the Chicago suburb. The flashers and gates at the intersection were reportedly working at the time. Police are still investigating the accident, but as of yet, it is not clear if either railroad company is to blame or if any wrongful death lawsuits will be filed on behalf of the deceased woman.
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An Elderly woman was struck and killed by a Union Pacific Freight Train Sunday around 4:30 p.m. in the Chicago suburb of Berwyn. The victim was crossing the tracks using a walker and did not yeild to the gates or flashing lights which indicated that a train was about to pass. Officials maintain that the gates and lights were in working order at the time of the incident and that the train's conductor was not negligent. There is no word yet whether anyone is at fault for the accident or whether the woman's family plans to file a law suit in the matter.
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A woman from Des Plaines, Illinois was killed when she was hit by a Metra train near the Edgebrook station in Chicago, Illinois Monday evening. Additionally, a separate incident on the Brown Line of the CTA left a woman seriously injured after being struck by the ‘El.’ The Metra death was being investigated as a suicide, but the results of the autopsy performed Tuesday have not yet revealed whether suicide was the motive. The Brown Line victim was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and classified as in serious-to-critical condition. To read more about either incident click here.
A multi car train derailment leaves investigators baffled. A train accident involving four locomotive cars and sixteen freight train cars where derailed off the tracks due to an obstruction placed on the train tracks. Investigators said that two large tree stumps were placed on the train track in an attempt to have a train accident occur. As of now a large award is being offered to anyone who has information about who placed the stumps on the track. A few crew members were aboard the train and one was taken to the hospital for personal injuries he sustained. To read the more and see the outrageous picture of the multiple train accident crash click here.
The Chicago, Illinois suburb of Palatine became the sight of the most recent train accident involving a Metra train and a car. The car’s negligent driver was given a citation for failing to move from the train tracks. Luckily the mixture of the location of the car on train tracks did not result in any fatal car crash or any serious personal injuries. The driver of the car was responsible for causing a train schedule delay. Metra train accidents are often blamed on the conductor but in this case it seems the negligent car driver was at fault. To see the full story click here.
Chicago, Illinois death occurs after a man is found injured and dead on the CTA brown line. The Cook County death of the man thought to be in his early 20s is currently under investigation. The CTA’s “L” line has been the subject of many notorious CTA accidents, injuries and death over the past few weeks. Although the cause of today’s most recent CTA accidental death or other cause is unknown everyone in Chicago, Illinois can hope that this will be the last personal injury accident. As gas prices keep on rising the CTA has seen increased passengers all who are at risk for L train injuries and accidents. To see the full story on this current investigation click here.
CTA President Ron Huberman was quoted in the Chicago Tribune stating that driver error caused today’s CTA Green Line derailment accident near Washington Park. This CTA accident follows a long series of CTA troubles. In July 2006, the CTA Blue Line derailed and caught fire just west of the Clark and Lake station, an accident injuring more than 150 CTA passengers. More recently, a semi truck accident claimed lives at the Cermak Red Line platform. This summer, the Blue Line stalled and eventually led to all passengers evacuating. The worst CTA derailment accident was in 1977 when a rush hour loop train came off of the tracks and crashed into pedestrians below. There is no word if a personal injury lawsuit for train derailments has been filed in this case or if anyone will seek to sue the CTA for injuries arising from today’s CTA train accident.
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Photographs of the CTA Green Line accident this morning are now available online. The CTA train derailed near 59th street on the south side of Chicago. The train derailed at the junction where Green Line trains can go east or west to the 63rd and Ashland stations. The photos clearly show that the front two cars actually ended up on separate spurs after the driver ignored the red stop signal and deliberately drove the train, even though safety features shut the train down to prevent exactly this type of CTA train accident.
See the photos here.
A CTA Green Line train derailed and injured ten people this morning during the rush hour commute in yet another CTA accident. This Chicago Transit Authority accident comes after a troubled summer for Chicago transit. According to news stories, the CTA train derailed after the Motorman, or train driver, intentionally went through a red signal. CTA tracks have an automatic device that stops trains from going through red signals by stopping the train. However, the driver ignored the safety device and restarted the train. The train then derailed on the tracks but did not fall to the street. 14 people were taken to area hospitals and ten people were reported injured in the CTA accident. There is no word yet if any CTA derailment injury lawsuits or CTA accident lawsuits have been filed.
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According to the Chicago Police Department, the truck driver whose semi truck crashed into the CTA Red Line station on Cermak last week possessed prescription drugs that were not prescribed to him. While in custody, the driver refused a urine test, a method police often use to detect controlled substances, and behaved oddly, leading some to suspect that he may have been under the influence of drugs when the truck crashed. Currently, Chicago lawyers have filed personal injury lawsuits in Chicago against the driver and have named the trucking company, Whiteline Express, in the truck accident lawsuit. Chicago Police plan to interview other semi truck drivers to determine if it is common for semi truck drivers to use controlled substances at work.
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The investigation into the horrific semi truck accident at the CTA’s Cermak red line stop last week continues. Currently, the Chicago Police Department is investigating the truck crash to determine if any foul pay was afoot, if the driver’s fatigue or substance use may have caused the crash, or if mechanical error caused the truck to crash. As of today, the Chicago Police Department has only given the driver a negligent driving ticket; this may mean that negligent driving caused a truck accident.
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