Two killed in Amtrak crash near Chicago

An Amtrak crash killed two people shortly after leaving Chicago Wednesday night.

The Amtrak train from Chicago bound for New York City was delayed about four hours after it struck a vehicle near Portage, Indiana.

About 10:50 p.m., Amtrak train No. 48 struck a vehicle near North County Line Road and U.S. Highway 12 (East Dunes Highway) about 17 miles east of Hammond.

None of the 172 passengers on the train was injured and the train did not derail.

According to Amtrak's Web site, train No. 48 departed Chicago's Union Station at 10 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in South Bend, Ind., at 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The train, which also makes stops in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, was scheduled to arrive in New York City at 7:35 p.m. Thursday.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation by the Gary Police Department early Thursday.