Details about what led to a Metra train striking and killing a Hickory Hills man in Westmont last week have yet to be released by the Westmont Police Department, which is waiting on a report from the coroner's office, Sgt. Steve Thompson said Tuesday.
READ: Man Dies After Being Struck by BNSF Metra Train in Westmont
Thompson, the Westmont Police Department's spokesman, said police have viewed onboard video footage from the train that hit 31-year-old Eric Bennett near the Cass Avenue crossing at approximately 5:45 p.m. Thursday. But without a report from the DuPage County Coroner's Office, which performs autopsies and analyzes items found on victims, it would be premature to say publicly if Bennett's death was an accident or a suicide, Thompson said.
The department has a theory it's leaning toward.
"But at this time it wouldn’t be right of me to blurt it out," Thompson said.
He expects the coroner's report to arrive before the end of the week.
Bennett, who was publicly identified by police Friday, died at the scene Thursday. The eastbound commuter train that hit him was carrying only an engineer and crew at the time.
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See also:
- Police Release Identity of Man Killed Thursday by Metra Train
- Metra Provides Tips on Crossing Tracks Safely
