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Watch: CFD gives update after more than 3 dozen hurt in CTA train crash
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It happened at 10:39 a.m. near 7500 N. Paulina, near the Howard Street Stop along the Red and Yellow lines.
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Officials said a two-car Skokie Swift train was traveling southbound when it struck a CTA snow removal vehicle that was also traveling southbound in the Howard rail yard.
Passengers on a passing Purple Line train felt a vibration, followed by a screech and a crash.
"It felt like we got hit too because the impact was like, it was so close," said witness Shayla Smith.
The impact crumpled and partially tore into the front end of the train, knocking passengers and transit employees off their feet.
23 hospitalized from CTA train crash on North Side near Howard station
CFD said 23 patients were transported to hospitals and 15 people refused. Their conditions range from serious to fair. Seven of the injured includes CTA personnel. The snow machine operator was also hurt.
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Officials said none of the injuries are life-threatening.
23 hospitalized in CTA Yellow Line crash
The area of the crash made for cumbersome rescues off the tracks.
There are still major questions about why heavy snow removal equipment was on the same track as a Yellow Line train.
"All I know is the passenger train was traveling at its normal speed, if you will, if they didn't tell me what it was. And the other vehicle was not traveling very fast at all. They were on the same track," said CFD 2nd District Chief Robert Jurewicz.
First responders set up triage units just north of the crash to help treat the wounded before they were taken to hospitals.
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"Anytime you have a high speed collision you were going to get impact injuries," said Dr. David Trotter of Illinois Masonic. "Definitely lacerations, contusions, things of that nature."
Both Yellow and Purple line service has been temporarily suspended. Yellow Line riders should use the #97 Skokie bus route as an alternative.
Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement, saying in part, "Our thoughts are with all affected and we are grateful for our brave first responders on the scene. We are working closely with emergency services as we continue to monitor this incident."
The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted that they are launching an investigation into the collision alongside Chicago police and CTA officials.
One passenger is already taking legal action, saying "This is an example of a catastrophic failure on the part of the CTA to make commuter transportation safe for its passengers who depend on it...In this day and age, something like this should never happen."
"On a train you have no idea what's going on. You're relying on the conductor, relying on CTA to do the job, and here they didn't do it," said Joseph T. Murphy, partner at Clifford Law.