W. Chicago child killed by train 'curious'

Adrianna Victoria-Chew was a happy 3-year-old girl, crazy about Hannah Montana and curious about the world.

"She was a very free person, happy, friendly, smiley … if you're down she would get you up," mother Johnnita Victoria-Chew said Sunday.

But the West Chicago preschooler's curiosity may have led her to wander too close to the train tracks Saturday afternoon.

Adrianna was killed after being struck by a train near her home, 318 W. Blair St.

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With just three houses between the Elgin, Joliet Eastern Railroad tracks and the family's home, Johnnita had talked to her children many times about the dangers of the train and told them to stay in the yard. While she was at work Saturday, Adrianna was in the care of her grandmother and 15-year-old cousin but appears to have wandered away.

At about 12:18 p.m., Adrianna, her 8-year-old sister and a third child from the neighborhood were playing in the field near the tracks.

"Three-year-olds are curious and they wander, said Adrianna's cousin Darren Lewis, 15. "When she (saw) something she probably just looked at it. I know how she is when she sees something she's interested in or something new to her and she'll just stop and look at it for a second."

When a southbound train approached, the two older children crossed to the west side of the tracks. Adrianna tried to follow them, but didn't make it across in time and was struck by the train.

She was taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield where she was pronounced dead. The preliminary coroner's report lists traumatic head injuries as the cause of her death. Lab tests are pending.

Police and EJE officials are still investigating the incident but EJE spokesman John Armstrong said he is confident a recording of the event will show the train blew its whistle, was traveling at the proper speed and following all safety precautions.

"Children ran across in front of the train," Armstrong said. "That's what's at issue here. It's a terrible tragic situation and certainly we give our condolences to the family."

Lewis, however, said while he didn't witness the accident he was nearby and did not hear a horn.

Clutching a stuffed Eeyore toy that belonged to Adrianna, Lewis described his cousin as sweet and innocent and said he considered her a little sister.

Adrianna's family says they would like to see a fence installed near the train to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

"Not just for my kids, for everybody," Johnnita said.

Flower and toys now mark the site where the accident occurred.

Ald. James Smith, whose ward includes the field east of the tracks, lives three blocks away and believes he heard a train whistle at about the time of the accident. Sunday, he drove through the area to see if other subdivisions near the tracks have fencing and didn't find any.

He is urging residents to keep their children away from the tracks and said he expects the issue will be discussed at tonight's city council meeting.

Adrianna's family is setting up a memorial fund in her name at Chase Bank. Details on the fund and funeral services are not yet available.