Man in critical condition after being hit by train in Wheaton

A 29-year-old Hanover Park man remained in critical condition Wednesday evening at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood after being struck by a freight train Tuesday along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in Wheaton, authorities said.

Deputy Police Chief Tom Meloni said it appears the situation involving Imran R. Sulaimana was an accident and "for some reason the pedestrian did not clear" when the train engineer sounded the horn.

Police are not sure what caused Sulaimana's failure to react, Meloni said.

A preliminary investigation indicates the man was walking east along the northernmost tracks near Ellis Avenue when he was struck by the 83-car freight train traveling east at 32 mph from Rochelle to the railroad's yard facility in Chicago, Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said.

The train was carrying consumer goods, including plastic products, furniture and bedding.

The engineer sounded the horn and applied the brakes before striking the pedestrian, Meloni said. Members of the train crew called 911.

Davis said he did not know exactly when the engineer saw the man, but "usually when they see that the person doesn't appear they are going to move off, the engineer will sound the horn."

Wheaton Fire Department paramedics treated the victim at the scene and then transported him to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. On Tuesday afternoon, Sulaimana was taken to Loyola University Medical Center.

There is no railroad crossing at the accident scene, Meloni said.

Authorities said no citations have been issued and the incident remains under investigation.