Train striking pedestrian in Glencoe likely an accident, says Metra

While the investigation into Saturday’s fatal train strike in Glencoe is ongoing, authorities believe the incident was a “horrible accident.”

Glencoe Public Safety responded Saturday morning, Sept. 6, to a train-vs-pedestrian collision at the railroad crossing near Green Bay Road and Maple Hill Road in Glencoe, where first-responders found a woman and a dog deceased.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office on Sunday, Sept. 7, identified the woman as Daniella V. Weisman, 48, of Glencoe.

Glencoe’s preliminary investigation showed that a southbound Metra train struck Weisman, who had approached the crossing from the east.

Meg Reile, a Metra spokesperson, told The Record on Monday that “nothing we or our police have heard indicates anything other than a horrible accident.”

According to Reile, Metra investigators have reviewed video of the incident and spoken with the train’s conductor and engineer. The safety lights and gates reportedly were operational and active when Weisman approached the crossing with two dogs. The second dog was not struck, she said.

Reile said the engineer activated the train’s horn and emergency brakes as Weisman neared the crossing. She added that Metra’s investigation shows the woman was wearing “some type of earphones” at the time of the collision.

“At this point, it looks like it was accidental and we don’t have any information to indicate otherwise,” Reile said. “But the investigation is still ongoing.”

An investigator with the Illinois Commerce Commission was at the scene on Monday, Sept. 8, as part of a standard operating procedure following a fatal Metra collision.

The subject crossing is located just south of the Takiff Center, 999 Green Bay Road, in Glencoe, and safety gates on either side of the crossing break up a sidewalk that runs east-west.

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