Woman killed when Metra train hits car in La Grange

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Updated: February 22, 2012 12:14PM

A Metra train struck a car Friday night in La Grange, killing one person inside.

An equipment train hit the car near the La Grange Stone Avenue station about 5:45 p.m., killing Maria Hinojosa, of Chicago, authorities said. Hinojosa was pronounced dead on the scene about 6:30 p.m. by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

The crash apparently happened at a gate crossing, but the reason the car was on the track remained under investigation, Metra officials said.

The train was not carrying passengers and was headed to Chicago, where it would turn around for a scheduled outbound run, Metra spokesman Tom Miller said. Because the train was not making stops it would have been traveling at the maximum posted speed, spokesman Meg Reile said. Reile didn’t know the posted speed in the area but said the highest speed limit on the line is 79 mph.

The crash prompted numerous cancellations and delays, Metra said.

No Metra personnel on the train were injured, Miller said.

An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday, according to the medical examiner’s office.