No injuries in low-speed Metra vs. vehicle crash in Palatine

No one was injured in a low-speed train versus car crash at around 12:44 p.m. Friday on Plum Grove Road in Palatine.

Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile said the crash was between a Metra train that had just left the Palatine station and a vehicle that was just barely on the train tracks.

"It was literally right outside the station," Reile said. "The train would not have been going very quickly at all."

Palatine Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Gratzianna said the damage to the car was very minor.

"There was no hood damage, no fender damage," Gratzianna said. "The damage was just to the bumper."

Gratzianna said within minutes of the crash, Palatine Police and Fire were on the scene as well as a Metra maintenance worker and manager.

Gratzianna said it appears that the driver of the vehicle, which was a four-door sedan, committed to crossing the tracks either before or as the gates were coming down.

"It is important to pay attention before you commit to crossing the tracks," Gratzianna said, adding that it was lucky the train was going to slowly.

Gratzianna said the train was stopped for around 20 to 25 minutes after the crash before starting up again toward Chicago.