Grayslake woman struck, killed by Amtrak train

Jason King said he was looking forward to mid-January when his best friend of three years was to become his wife.

That dream ended in a flash Thursday evening when Teresa "Traci" Spradlin, 43, of Grayslake, was struck and killed by a Seattle-bound Amtrak train at the West Lake Forest Train Station on Waukegan Road.

King said Spradlin, an executive assistant at HSBC-North America in Mettawa, was crossing the tracks to reach the outbound train platform when the accident occurred about 5:20 p.m.

King said he believes Spradlin thought she was trying to cross ahead of a Metra train scheduled to stop in Lake Forest, not a speeding Amtrak train.

Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said Spradlin was officially pronounced dead at the scene at 6 p.m. The accident is being investigated by Lake Forest and Metra police, Keller said.

King said Spradlin had arrived at the station to meet him and continue their commute home together.

Amtrak officials and Lake Forest Police said the Amtrak train was stopped for four hours during the accident investigation. Metra trains, including the one King was riding in, were also delayed and diverted to a different track.

Lake Forest Police said in a news release that two Grayslake men waiting at the station were injured in the accident. The men, ages 42 and 50, were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with minor injuries.

"I tried texting and calling her when my train was delayed, and when I wasn't getting an answer, I was worried," King said. "Then I heard there was an accident at the Lake Forest station and, even though I wasn't sure it was her, I rushed to get there."

After he made his way to Lake Forest, King learned from a police officer that Spradlin was struck by the train.

Spradlin is survived by her 18-year-old son, Cameron, who graduated in June from Grayslake Central High School. King has three children, an 8-year-old boy and 4-year-old twins, a boy and girl.

King said Spradlin was a wanderer before he met her three years ago. She was born in Wisconsin, but called California and Michigan home before moving to Grayslake.

He said she was a "riot," who could light up a room with her smile and her wit.

"She made me laugh and made me smile," King said. "We had so much fun together, whether we were wandering in Chicago taking pictures on her camera, or just sitting on the couch watching football."

He added Spradlin loved her family fiercely, always devoting time to spend with relatives and friends.

"Traci was an incredibly fun person to be around," he said. "She was thoughtful and caring and, honestly, the absolute best friend I could have ever dreamed of. She will definitely be missed."

Funeral arrangements are pending.