Grandmother, baby survive crash with Metra Electric train

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A grandmother and her young granddaughter survived a crash with a Metra train on Friday afternoon in the city's South Shore neighborhood. Richanna Shelton, a grandmother of six, spoke to ABC7 from her hospital bed Friday night.

Shelton said she tried to get out of the way of the oncoming train, but found herself pinned between the crossing arms with her infant granddaughter in the backseat.

"I just don't know what to say, I'm speechless right now because it's just a miracle that I'm here," Shelton said.

Shelton's Mercury Sable was left mangled by an inbound Metra Electric Line train around 1:30 p.m. Friday near 72nd and Exchange.

Shelton's granddaughter, 15-month-old London, was sitting in a car seat in the back passenger side. Amazingly, she was unharmed.

"I just looked at the car and I just cried for me and my grandbaby's life that we was safe and that we was living, I was just happy," Shelton said.

Shelton said as she turned left to cross the tracks, the crossing arms began to come down. She attempted to reverse course but found herself stuck with the car parallel to the tracks as the train sounded its horn. The impact crumpled the driver side, but Shelton managed to lean towards the passenger side.

"She got out of her seat, climbed to the back to see if the child was okay. Meanwhile, all the guys in the neighborhood started beating on the windows," said Sara Phillips, a witness.

The infant was unhurt and wasn't even crying. Shelton was taken Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

"When the train was coming it scared me, I thought my life was going to end. So I'm just glad I'm here," Shelton said.

The crash caused temporary delays on the Metra Electric line. Shelton escaped with mostly superficial injuries and was released from the hospital Friday night.