Man killed by Amtrak train in Downers Grove

A 22-year-old Maywood man was killed Saturday afternoon when he stepped in front of an Amtrak train in Downers Grove, police say.

The man was dropped off at the suburb's Belmont Metra station to catch an eastbound Metra train, Downers Grove Police Sgt. David Bormann said.

The man crossed in front of the westbound Amtrak train, traveling at 69 mph, while attempting to reach his platform when he was struck at about 2:30 p.m., Bormann said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police declined to identify the man Saturday evening, pending notification of his family,

Witnesses at the station said crossing gates were down and functioning properly at the time, Bormann said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Amtrak's Southwest Chief was carrying 146 passengers on a route headed to Los Angeles. No injuries on the train were reported, Amtrak spokeswoman Katrina Romero said.

The train was delayed an hour and 30 minutes, Romero said. The Southwest Chief into Chicago and California Zephyr out of Chicago were delayed as well.

Three Metra trains also were delayed, according to the passenger service's Web site. One inbound train was delayed for more than an hour and 20 minutes while two afternoon outbound trains were held back between 10 minutes and 55 minutes. Trains were traveling on schedule by 5 p.m.

The death comes nearly two months after 43-year-old Teresa "Traci" Spradlin of Grayslake was struck and killed by a Seattle-bound Amtrak train at a Lake Forest station. Spradlin was also crossing the tracks to catch a scheduled Metra train.