A crash involving a Chicago Transit Authority train occurred Thursday morning, injuring at least 38 people. Service along Chicago’s Yellow Line remains suspended Friday morning as investigators try to figure out what led to a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train crash into rail equipment yesterday. National Transportation Safety Board crews have been at the scene investigating the collision, although it was not immediately clear why the snowplow was on the track at the time.
According to authorities, thirty-eight straphangers were injured when a two-car commuter train in Chicago’s northside slammed into a diesel-powered snowplow. The incident took place at around 10:45 a.m. near the border of Evanston and Chicago, where the Yellow Line from Skokie ends at the Howard Station. The Yellow Line train had rounded a curve and slammed into the snowplow that was moving slowly down the tracks in front of it.
Passengers reported feeling a vibration, hearing a screech, and then the crash. The impact crushed the front end of the train, knocking both riders and transit employees off their feet. Photos from the scene showed the cab of the train smashed inwards while emergency responders assessed passengers and provided medical assistance to the injured.
Of the injured, 23 people, including four children, were taken to hospitals. Three were in serious or critical condition, though no injuries were believed to be life-threatening. Fifteen others refused transport to hospitals. Seven of the injured individuals were CTA employees.
One passenger, who filed a lawsuit against the CTA, described hearing the train operator screaming in pain and witnessing blood on the floor and rails. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
The Chicago Tribune reported that the CTA snowplow was on the tracks for scheduled training, but it remains unclear why it was on the track at the time of the crash. The crash has disrupted service along the Yellow Line, with shuttle bus service available between Howard and Skokie/Dempster.
As authorities continue to investigate the incident, the Chicago Transit Authority is being criticized for the crash. An injured passenger has already filed a lawsuit against the CTA, claiming injuries sustained in the crash.
The crash highlights the need for a thorough investigation to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future. The safety of commuters and employees should be a top priority for transportation authorities.
