Fatal Grade X-ing Incident Oak Forest (Rock Island)

Chicago media reports a grade x-incident occurred at Central Ave near Oak Forest. The train was Eastbound from Joliet. Two fatalities in the automobile are reported; minor injuries to several METRA passengers. The lead control car has derailed:

Chicago Tribune Coverage

Brief passage:

• Two people were killed this afternoon when an inbound Metra Rock Island train struck a car at a rail crossing near the Oak Forest station.
  
  The lead car of the train, No. 420, was slightly off the tracks but remained upright, and several ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The accident happened at about 4 p.m. near 167th Street and Central Avenue, said Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile.
  
  Reile said the seven-car train had 89 passengers and was due downtown at 4:33 p.m. According to the Metra Web site, trains were being allowed to move along one track around the scene.
  
  Police closed off Central Avenue to auto traffic.

Saw that on the WGN website. Not much left of the auto.

During the 5AM hour, WBBM 780 reported that both the auto's driver and passenger were women "in their eighties".

Nuff said?

By "lead car 420", I believe they mean "locomotive 420". 420 is an MP36.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/317 ... 45fe27.jpg

Sounds like they meant to say "the lead car of train 420"

Sounds like they meant to say "the lead car of train 420"

Indeed. 420 the MP36 is currently assigned to the Milwaukee District/NCS pool of locomotives.