Police: Mt. Prospect man arrested after hitting car, pushing onto tracks

A Mount Prospect man has been charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol after rear-ending a car stopped at a railroad crossing and pushing it into the path of a moving freight train, Des Plaines Police officials said.

Jorge Barrera-Lopez, 20, of the 1700 block of W. Chariot Ct. in Mount Prospect, has also been charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving without a valid driver's license following the accident at a Union Pacific Railroad crossing on Touhy at 10:17 p.m. Thursday evening, authorities said.

Barrera-Lopez has posted bail and is due back in court on May 11th.

Officials said the 48-year-old victim from Des Plaines was facing east on Touhy at the railroad crossing when her 1995 GMC Truck was rear-ended by Barrera-Lopez.

The force of the crash caused the victim's vehicle under the downed railroad gates and into the train, heading northbound on the outside track.

Both drivers sustained minor injuries, and were transported from the scene to Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove. Both have since been released from the hospital.

The train was stopped in Mt. Prospect where it was inspected and did not receive any damage. Both cars involved in the accident were towed from the scene.