Freight train hits semi truck in La Grange, shutting down Metra service

Freight train vs. semi-truck at La Grange Station

A terrifying train accident at one of the busiest crossings in all of Chicagoland.

LA GRANGE, Ill. - A freight train on the BNSF line crashed into a semi-truck at the La Grange Road station on Friday afternoon, prompting major delays and leaving behind heavy damage, authorities said.

What we know:

The crash occurred around 1:52 p.m. as a semi-truck was attempting to clear the tracks at La Grange Road—a busy crossing with three parallel tracks. The train hit the trailer of the truck, blocking all three main rail lines, according to officials.
No injuries were reported to crew members or bystanders, according to BNSF, and the semi-truck driver walked away unharmed. 
The accident was caught on-camera by a railfan who just so happened to hit 'record' moments before the collision. 
"I didn't believe that I was seeing it, I was pretty scared, it was quite terrifying to watch," said Ian Guzman of Ian's Siren and Train Productions. 
As seen on Guzman's video, the westbound freight train had no way to avoid the semi-truck, which was traveling northbound across the tracks. 
Guzman, a photographer and train enthusiast, had been filming at the Stone Avenue station before relocating to La Grange Road. 
"I do rail fanning, I go out and record trains," Guzman said. "I saw a train that was coming so I decided to film it, because why not. And then the truck, it just came out of nowhere and got struck by the train."
Officials with the Village of La Grange say the impact pushed the trailer into a tree and a column of the passenger shelter before coming to a stop.
No one was utilizing the passenger shelter at the time of the crash. 
"It was a very sharp, just really terrible, crushing sound. You could hear the metal bending and crumpling," Guzman said.

Incredibly, the semi driver, who works for Paschall Truck Lines (PTL), wasn't injured.

"The driver is perfectly fine, the cab cleared the railroad intersection by about 40 feet and the train made contact with the last five feet of the trailer," said Eric Aycock, VP of Safety for Paschall Truck Lines.

The trucking company is now investigating the crash.

"Our drivers are committed to safety and anytime anything of this magnitude happens, they are shaken up, but we are taking all proper steps," Aycock said.

The semi, which appeared to be carrying furniture, was carefully hoisted off the tracks. Crew spent hours Friday afternoon and evening cleaning up debris—including toppled bricks, fencing, and crossing signals.
Following the crash, inbound and outbound trains were halted near La Grange Road, and extensive commuter delays were reported. 
Metra passengers were encouraged to seek alternate transportation. As of around 7 p.m., Tracks 2 and 3 were cleared for movement with lingering delays expected. 

What they're saying:

"This afternoon, La Grange Fire, Police and other Village personnel responded to an accident involving a BNSF freight train and a tractor trailer. The westbound train struck the truck trailer while traveling through the BNSF rail crossing at La Grange Road. The trailer then struck a tree and a column of the La Grange Road passenger shelter on the north side of the tracks before coming to rest. Significant debris were left behind. Fortunately, there are no reported injuries. We are grateful to the first responders, partnering agencies, and others for their expedient response. Crews are working to remove the trailer and towards reopening the crossing, which is anticipated to take a number of hours," the Village of La Grange said in a statement.

What we don't know:

It is unclear why the semi-truck driver was on the tracks when the crossing gates, lights, and bells were activated. 
This is a developing story and we'll bring more updates as they become available.