Sailor Struck, Killed By Metra Train
Updated 02/09/11 - 2:45 p.m.
HIGHWOOD (CBS) -- A Navy sailor from California was killed Tuesday night when he tried to beat a Metra train in north suburban Highwood.
Chase Church, 23, was struck by Union Pacific Line train No. 343 at about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, just north of the Highwood station, authorities said. The train, which runs from Chicago to Kenosha, Wis., does not stop at the Highwood station.
Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said Church was pronounced dead on the scene. An autopsy Wednesday found that Church died of multiple injuries and the death "appears to be an accident," Keller said.
Keller said Church was a recent Navy graduate at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and was attempting to run across the tracks to beat the train when he was hit. He was with other Navy friends who also ran in front of the train, he said.
The train was stopped just north of Washington Avenue in Highwood while officials investigated, Gillis said. Five other Metra trains were also delayed by the incident.
There were no reports of injuries on the train, Metra said.
(The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.)
