Gates worked in fatal car-train crash in Palatine
Palatine police have determined that crossing signals and gates were activated and working properly Dec. 27 when an express Metra train struck a car in the village's downtown, killing the vehicle's 64-year-old driver.
Cmdr. Craig Lesselyoung said that police Wednesday morning met with Union Pacific representatives and watched video recordings of the collision. Trains are equipped with cameras at both the front and rear.
Retired letter carrier Michael Levgard of Palatine was killed Dec. 27 as he drove north on Brockway Street.
“It was clear the signals were activated and that the gates were down in time leading up to accident and even after train passed through,” Lesselyoung said.
It could take another couple weeks for the accident reconstructionist to issue his final report, but Lesselyoung said police are confident Levgard drove around the gates, adding that there was no evidence his death was a suicide.