Lisle man dead after car hit by train in Wheaton

A 70-year-old Lisle man died Thursday morning after a freight train struck his car in Wheaton, police said.

Police said H. Thomas Powers was pronounced dead after being transported to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield following the 10:35 a.m. accident at the President Street crossing.

Witnesses told police Powers drove his red Toyota around lowered gates at the crossing. He was driving north when the car was struck by an eastbound Union Pacific train, police said.

The track reopened about 1:30 p.m., Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said. The crossing will remain closed until at least Monday as workers repair damage caused by the collision, police officials said. Warning control devices were damaged in the collision. Detour signs will be posted for motorists.

The train was hauling 133 coal cars from Wyoming to a power plant in Wisconsin, Davis said. The freight train speed limit in that area is 45 mph and there's no indication the train was exceeding the limit, officials said.

Davis said railroad officials asked police to check on reports of pedestrians climbing over the stopped train to get to the other side of the street. Wheaton Deputy Chief Tom Meloni said officers were dispatched to the Chase Street and West Street crossings to warn pedestrians to stay away from the stopped train. He doesn't believe anyone was cited.

Metra officials said some westbound trains were delayed up to 90 minutes and eastbound trains were delayed up to 70 minutes by the crash.