Metra says CN freight train killed bicyclist in Grayslake

A female bicyclist was struck and killed by a CN freight train in Grayslake just after 8 p.m. Tuesday night, and Metra said the incident involved a freight train, not a Metra train. Metra Police are handling the investigation, while the crossing area near Lake and Hillside was cleared and back open to traffic earlier Wednesday morning.

Lake and Hillside

Police were seen inspecting the tracks Wednesday morning where the bicyclist was allegedly hit. Metra said there was no impact to Metra commuters, even as the scene drew attention from nearby residents who heard the commotion.

Ron Beckman, who lives nearby, said, "It's just horrible" and added, "I don't wish that on anybody. It's a terrible thing." He also said, "I was looking out the kitchen window and I saw the lights over there and everything I figured well something had to have happened."

Grayslake neighbors

Gabby Miniscalo said neighbors saw flashing lights and an ambulance at the scene Tuesday night. "When we looked over, we saw a lot of flashing lights. It seems like the ambulance was already here. But it seems like it was going on for a really long time," she said.

Miniscalo, who said she walks her dogs near the crossing almost every day, said, "I think it's terrible, I take my dogs out here for a walk almost every day." She also said, "It kind of gives me goosebumps and I think it's a scary thing."

Crossing warnings

Neighbors said they do not believe the train arm or tracks were malfunctioning at the time. Miniscalo said, "The arms go down and they go down pretty in advance," and added, "Even though it says no horn, there's still usually a horn." Beckman said, "It's horrible because you've got the gates you got the dingdong you've got all that stuff," then added, "I don't know. There's a lot of questions that need to be answered."

The fatality leaves Metra service unchanged for commuters, but the investigation now rests with Metra Police and the crossing itself has already reopened. For residents who use the Lake and Hillside area, the immediate concern is the same one Beckman raised: what happened at a crossing that neighbors say was already using gates and warning signals when the train struck the bicyclist.