Pedestrian crossing tracks killed in Downers Grove

A middle age woman was struck and killed by a freight train Wednesday night while attempting to cross the tracks around another train that was stopped at the downtown Downers Grove Metra station, officials said.

Downers Grove police said the woman walked around a crossing gate on Main Street and was struck by the passing train, which may have been blocked by the Metra train. She was struck at 6:58 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

The woman was walking south on the east side of Main Street and the Metra train was stopped on the northern track just east of the station, Downers Grove police Lt. Mike Willison said. The train that struck her was headed west on the center track.

Metra service on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Line was delayed for about an hour and a half while police and emergency crews responded to the scene, Metra spokesman Tom Miller said.

Outbound trains Nos. 1281, 1285, 1287 and 1291, scheduled to arrive in Aurora at 7:19 p.m., 7:34, 7:45 p.m. and 8:56 p.m., respectively, are all delayed up to 105 minutes.

Police continued interviewing witnesses late Wednesday and had not determined whether the death was accidental.

Police said the crossing where the woman was struck is a standard gate with lights and bells and also has a gate for pedestrians on the sidewalk.