Des Plaines police investigating who left car on tracks

Des Plaines police are investigating who abandoned a car on Metra’s North Central Service Line early Tuesday causing a crash that delayed train service for hours.

Metra spokesman Tom Miller said no one was injured when the train that hit the vehicle just before 6 a.m. at a railroad crossing at Seegers and Rand roads.

“We have no idea who left it there,” said Des Plaines Deputy Police Chief Mike Kozak. “We spoke to the owner, and as far as the owner knew the car was parked in front of his house.”

Kozak said no witnesses saw anyone leaving the car on the tracks. An evidence technician has processed the mangled vehicle and the crash remains under investigation.

It took most of the rush hour period to get the track cleared and the train moving again. North Central Line trains that had been running about 70 minutes behind schedule because of the crash were back on schedule by Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Commuters can check for scheduling updates at metrarail.com.