The man who died Tuesday morning after he was struck by an eastbound Metra commuter train at the Forest Avenue crossing near downtown Downers Grove was a 21-year-old Downers Grove resident, DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen said Wednesday.
Jorgensen said initial findings show the man died of multiple head and chest traumas, but whether he intended to be hit or was accidentally hit has not yet been determined.
"Our investigation is ongoing," he said.
The incident occurred around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. According to Downers Grove police, the pedestrian disobeyed Forest Avenue crossing gates that were down before he was struck by the train that was preparing to stop at the Downers Grove-Main Street station.
"Witnesses stated that the crossing gates were down and functioning at the time of the accident," a Tuesday release from the police department reads.
Tuesday's was the third of three fatal pedestrian incidents involving eastbound Metra trains along a short stretch of BNSF tracks.
READ:
On Thursday, March 7, a 31-year-old Hickory Hills man was struck by a train at the Cass Avenue crossing in Westmont. Then on Monday, March 18, a 42-year-old Clarendon Hills man stepped in front of a train at the West Hinsdale train station.
Though Hinsdale Police Chief Brad Bloom said witnesses and surveillance video suggest the Clarendon Hills man intended to be hit, Jorgensen said the coroner's office is still investigating all three incidents and their causes.
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The public should insist on video the railroads can't tamper with like they are caught doing quite frequently WITHOUT JAIL TIME.