A tragic accident unfolded on a Monday morning in northwest suburban Bartlett when a Metra train collided with a lone snowplow driver's vehicle, claiming his life instantly. According to authorities, the incident occurred before 9:30 a.m., near the Bartlett station at 120 E. Railroad Ave.
The sole occupant of the snowplow was rushed to St. Alexius hospital in Hoffman Estates after the crash, where his condition had initially been deemed critical by medical personnel on the scene. Unfortunately, his fate took a drastic turn shortly thereafter, with the victim succumbing to his injuries and ultimately being pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Bartlett fire officials confirmed the tragic news, while Metra officials acknowledged that an out-of-service train was struck by the snowplow, leaving it severely damaged beyond repair. The incident had taken place despite the fact that the road near the Bartlett station was open to traffic and accessible for snow removal purposes.
As a result of this heart-wrenching tragedy, extensive disruptions to public transportation were reported in the aftermath of the accident, with inbound and outbound train services restored by 10 a.m. However, Metra officials warned passengers that potential delays might still be experienced on Monday morning due to the severity of the incident.
The Bartlett Fire Department released a heartfelt message expressing their sympathies and support for the Public Works Department, the snowplow driver's colleagues, friends, and community members as they grapple with this devastating loss.
The sole occupant of the snowplow was rushed to St. Alexius hospital in Hoffman Estates after the crash, where his condition had initially been deemed critical by medical personnel on the scene. Unfortunately, his fate took a drastic turn shortly thereafter, with the victim succumbing to his injuries and ultimately being pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Bartlett fire officials confirmed the tragic news, while Metra officials acknowledged that an out-of-service train was struck by the snowplow, leaving it severely damaged beyond repair. The incident had taken place despite the fact that the road near the Bartlett station was open to traffic and accessible for snow removal purposes.
As a result of this heart-wrenching tragedy, extensive disruptions to public transportation were reported in the aftermath of the accident, with inbound and outbound train services restored by 10 a.m. However, Metra officials warned passengers that potential delays might still be experienced on Monday morning due to the severity of the incident.
The Bartlett Fire Department released a heartfelt message expressing their sympathies and support for the Public Works Department, the snowplow driver's colleagues, friends, and community members as they grapple with this devastating loss.
... can't even imagine being out there on that road, trying to do your job in these crazy winter conditions... and for it to end like that is just heartbreaking 
. I mean, the snowplow driver was probably just doing his thing, trying to keep up with the weather, and then BAM! This happens. It's so senseless 
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just can't believe what happened on that Metra train yesterday morning 
. A snowplow driver lost his life in an accident... that's just so sad 
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. The delays in public transportation might've been a bit of a headache, but safety always comes first 
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. And on top of that, the thought of that poor snowplow driver's vehicle being left like that... just not cool 
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. metra officials should really review their safety protocols, this is preventable 
and the Bartlett station has like 500,000 riders per month 
. It's time for some real change around here, if you ask me! 
My heart goes out to his family and loved ones... they must be totally devastated 
. And the Metra officials are all like "oh well, it's an old train" but I don't think that makes it okay. The guy was just doing his job too. 
just can't imagine how scary that must have been for everyone involved... train colliding with a snowplow, it's like something out of a movie 
. I hope the authorities are investigating this properly and getting to the bottom of what happened. It's also sad that it had to happen on a Monday morning when people were already stressed about going back to work 
️. The road was open for snow removal, but I guess accidents can still happen anywhere 
. Hope they can get through this tough time together 
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. RIP to the snowplow driver, may he rest in peace 
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. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy