A woman was killed early Friday morning after a Union Pacific train collided with a car in a Chicago suburb, officials said.
The crash happened around 2 a.m. at the 19th Avenue crossing in Melrose Park, Union Pacific spokeswoman Kristen South said. The train was traveling to Chicago from Los Angeles, heading east, when it struck the vehicle.
A female passenger was extricated from the vehicle and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The driver was transported with injuries to Loyola University Medical Center.
According to the fire chief, the crossing gates were down at the time of the crash and the vehicle tried to go around the gates.
Melrose Park Police are investigating the accident.
Union Pacific said their hearts go out to the family of the victim.
Per their policy, the conductor and engineer will undergo counseling after such a horrific accident.
It wasn't immediately clear how long the tracks would be closed.
