The victim was identified by police as Florence Perez, 44, of Melrose Park. According to Franklin Park police, Perez was walking too close to the tracks when she was struck. The train's engineer said he sounded his horn, but she never looked up.
Police say Perez was walking to close to the north rail of the Metra Line and was struck by a Metra Express train traveling west bound at approximately 40 mph through Franklin Park. At the time of the incident, the rail road gates and signal were functioning properly and the train's horn was active, investigators said.
She was pronounced dead on the scene. Metra trains were temporarily not traveling any farther than Franklin Park in either direction. Inbound North Central Service trains picked up some customers from River Grove inbound into the city, Metra said. Service was restored on the MDW line by 8:50 a.m., about an hour after the accident.
Franklin Park police have reportedly viewed a security camera video that shows Perez walking around lowered crossing gates. The train's engineer has told police the same thing.
The incident remains under investigation.
