1 Dead, 2 Injured In University Park Amtrak Collision

UNIVERSITY PARK, IL — A Frankfort man is dead and two passengers injured after an Amtrak train bound for Carbondale struck a box truck Sunday evening.

Authorities said that Richard E. Millette, 77, crossed the tracks at South Governor's Highway and West University Parkway in University Park when an Amtrak hit his truck just after 5 p.m. Sunday.Millette was pronounced dead at the scene at about 7:20 p.m.

Two passengers on train 393 were taken to Franciscan St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, authorities said. There were 300 passengers on the train.

The train was traveling at 70 miles per hour when it hit the truck, CBS Chicago reported, and the impact derailed one locomotive and five passenger cars.

According to Amtrak Spokesman Marc Magliari, the passengers were taken to nearby Governors State University by chartered bus. Amtrak then chartered additional buses to take them to their destinations.

Amtrak canceled trains 59, 390 and 391 through Monday morning. Service will be restored Monday afternoon, Magliari said, and trains 50 and 58 will operate later today.

University Park police are investigating the accident.

Patch editor John Ferak contributed to the article.