Officials: Aurora woman died instantly of head injuries

An Aurora mom who was struck by a train this weekend while driving home with her children died instantly of head injuries, authorities said today.

Piedad Kinshasa, 42, and her two kids were returning from the store on Saturday night when she found herself at the Liberty Street railroad crossing as the gates were lowering.

She apparently tried to put her car in reverse, but the gear got stuck in neutral, police said. Her body was found outside the vehicle. Her children were not injured.

Kinshasa was either getting out of her car or was already outside it with her door open, police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said today.

A freight train hit the car on the rear driver's side, causing the door to hit her so forcefully it threw her into the train, he said.

She died instantly of head injuries, initial results from an autopsy done by the Kane County coroner's office show.

Her children, Juan, 11, and Andrea, 2, were unharmed. Juan escaped just before the train hit the car. His sister had been secured in her safety seat.

Kinshasa was pronounced dead hours later at Aurora's Rush-Copley Medical Center.

The children and Kinshasa's husband, Omar De Leon, are headed to Guatemala for funeral services this weekend. She will be buried in Guatemala, where her family resides.