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Mount Prospect/Des Plaines train accident 5-13-11
The incident occurred this morning when a Metra train collided with a dump truck at the Mt. Prospect Road crossing on Northwest Highway. The collision took place in Mount Prospect, but the resulting partial derailment and fire happened approximately a quarter of a mile further down the line in Des Plaines. Fire departments from both areas established a unified command to manage the emergency response.
The truck driver was killed at the scene, while multiple train passengers were taken to local hospitals with varying injuries—none of which were life-threatening. As the number of injured passengers increased, an EMS Box Alarm was initially called, then escalated to a 3rd and eventually a 5th Alarm. A PACE bus was also dispatched to assist with transporting patients who had been triaged as "green." Ambulances from Divisions 1, 3, and 20 arrived on scene to provide additional support.
According to the Chicago Tribune, all train cars remained upright, but at least 29 passengers were hospitalized, with 10 treated on-site. The engineer was reported in critical condition. The train, No. 636, was heading inbound from Harvard when it struck the truck around 8:40 a.m. near Seger and the Cumberland station in Mount Prospect.
The truck driver, Kazimierz Karasek, 59, from Prospect Heights, had a long history of traffic violations, including a DUI. The truck was carrying a load of concrete and was traveling northwest on Northwest Highway before making a left turn onto Mt. Prospect Road through the crossing. Despite the gates being down and signals functioning properly, the driver allegedly ignored the barriers and turned into the northbound lanes, causing the cab to be on the tracks when the train passed through.
The front car came to rest about 200 yards east of the crossing, with visible damage along the metal above the lower row of windows. Union Pacific spokesperson Wes Lujan noted that the gates were operating correctly, suggesting the driver may have gone around them. He also mentioned that the diagonal design of the intersection could contribute to such incidents, though he emphasized there was no justification for bypassing the gates.
A similar accident involving the same type of truck occurred nearly a decade ago at the same location, according to Des Plaines fire officials. In today’s crash, the driver not only ignored the gates and lights but also violated a "No Left Turn" sign, leading to the tragic collision.
Tim Olk and Larry Shapiro captured several powerful images from the scene. Tim's photos show the lead car of the train partially off the tracks and the fuel that ignited along the first two cars. Larry's shots include the damaged truck, its cab sheared off and thrown 50 feet away, and the overall devastation at the intersection.
Additional images from Larry showcase the aftermath of the collision, including the train coming to rest a quarter-mile down the track, paramedics tending to injured passengers, and the fire-damaged train cars. The windows of the train, though cracked, helped protect the passengers inside.
You can view more photos from Tim Olk here and from Larry Shapiro here. For those interested, radio traffic from the incident is available online.