City of Geneva issued the following announcement on July 7.
A 24-year-old Batavia man died on July 5 from injuries he sustained when he was struck by a freight train while on the Union Pacific railroad tracks west of the Randall Road Bridge.
Geneva Police and Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the scene around 3:51 p.m. on July 5, for a train accident involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, emergency responders located a 24-year-old man on the railroad tracks, just west of the Randall Road Bridge. The victim was unresponsive and not breathing. Emergency medical services were provided, but responders could not revive the victim.
The preliminary investigation indicates the victim was walking westbound along the wooden railroad ties, on the outside of the railroad tracks. The victim was on the southernmost side of the tracks with an eastbound freight train on the northernmost tracks. A second freight train was headed westbound on the southernmost tracks. The westbound train continuously sounded the air horn and immediately applied the emergency stop brakes. Witness accounts indicate the victim did not turn around to make visual contact with the westbound train. His attention was focused on the eastbound train. The victim was struck by the westbound train on the railroad tracks just west of the Randall Road Bridge.
The stopped train caused Western Avenue to be closed for over five hours during the investigation. The accident remains under investigation by the Geneva Police Department and the Kane County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, July 8, at 10:30 a.m. The Geneva Police Department will not be releasing the victim’s name at this time.
Questions should be directed to Geneva Police Commander Brian Maduzia by calling 630-232-4736 or emailing bmaduzia@geneva.il.us.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Geneva
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