A Mundelein woman who tried to drive around lowered railroad crossing gates was killed when a Metra train hit her sport-utility vehicle Friday in north suburban Mundelein.
Kenia Riddle, 39, was driving her black 1998 Mercury Mountaineer east on Allanson Road, about a half-mile east of U.S. Highway 45, when a northbound Metra train hit her vehicle at 2:24 p.m., said Sgt. Nick Poulos.
“Witnesses say the crossing gates were down, the lights were automated and the horns sounded,” Deputy Police Chief Mike O’Brien said. “The car went around the gates.”
The SUV was dragged about 100 feet.
The train was carrying commuters on the Metra North Central Service en route to Antioch. Passengers experienced delays of up to two hours and were bused to the Union Pacific station in Lake Forest to complete their journeys, Metra spokeswoman Audrey Renteria said.
Other passengers expecting to take the same train on its return trip to the city also were bused to the Lake Forest station, she said.
Renteria said she had no information on whether the conductor had seen the SUV go around the gates.
