Loyola Senior Dies After Fall onto Red Line Tracks

A senior at Loyola University died early Saturday after falling onto the electrified third rail of the CTA Red Line near the school's Rogers Park Campus.

"We are extremely saddened to inform you that John Versnel, a Loyola senior, passed away earlier this morning (September 15) in an accident off campus," according to a statement from the school.

The 21-year-old college student fell onto the tracks at the Loyola Red Line station, in the 1200 block of West Loyola Avenue, about 1:20 a.m., police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro said.

Versnel was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston where he was pronounced dead at 1:29 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

Police said Versnel had been drinking with friends earlier when he exited a train at the station, bumped into a pillar on the platform and stumbled onto track.

Versnel was not hit by a train but made contact with the electrified third rail, CTA spokesman Brian Steele said. The incident halted trains for about an hour, requiring riders to take a bus shuttle between the Addison and Howard stations.

Trains resumed normal service about 2:30 a.m., Steele said.

The school has informed students that counseling services and resources are available to them.

Area North detectives are investigating the death.