Man struck, killed by freight train in Wheeling Christmas night

A 35-year-old man was struck and killed by a freight train passing through Wheeling late on Christmas night, officials confirmed.

A Canadian National freight train was headed north from Chicago toward Wisconsin when it hit a pedestrian around 8:30 p.m., said Patrick Waldron, company spokesman.

The man was walking through an area north of Willow Road in Wheeling when he was hit. The collision was not at a grade crossing, Waldron said.

The man died of his injuries overnight, he said.

No one else was injured, but the train did stop while Canadian National and Wheeling police conducted an investigation. The man's name has not been released as of Thursday afternoon, pending family notification.

An autopsy was scheduled to take place Thursday afternoon, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.