Couple killed by Metra train
N.W. SIDE | Seen arguing in park by neighbors
A man and woman were killed by a Metra train during Tuesday evening rush hour, and investigators want to know why the two were on the stretch of tracks on the city's Northwest Side.
Minutes before the incident, some residents along the 1400 block of North Monticello, which is across the street from the elevated train tracks, saw the unidentified man and woman.
Robert Morales, 32 and a resident of the area, said he saw the two at a nearby park arguing. A short time later, he saw them hugging, though the woman appeared reluctant.
David Villagomez, whose home is across the street from the train tracks, said he witnessed the fight and apparent effort to make up, but didn't think much about it. He went inside to see about his 6-month-old child.
But as a northbound train approached, and the horn blared three or four times --he rushed out to see what was going on.
By the time he got outside, the two were lying dead in an embankment near the tracks.
Chicago Police received the first 911 call, regarding two people who had been hit by a train, just before 5:30 p.m.
The victims, identified only as a Melrose Park woman and a yet-to-be identified man, were hit by an outbound Metra Milwaukee District North No. 2137 train en route to Fox Lake from Chicago's Union Station, said Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile.
Residents said the two were familiar faces in the neighborhood, though those interviewed didn't know their names.
They, too, were puzzled about why the two went to the train tracks.
About 10 minutes before the incident, Morales said he overheard the argument and watched as the man tried to kiss the woman.
"They were at the little park by the tracks and they were angry, yelling at each other," he said.
"Then they were standing around and he was trying to hug her, to kiss her. She was just pushing him away."
Residents say it's not unusual to see people going to the train tracks to do drugs, and that access to the tracks is easier than ever since a fence was taken down in recent years.
Contributing: Sun-Times News Group
