Person Struck, Killed By Pink Line CTA Train
CHICAGO (CBS) - A man reportedly on his way to a hospital Wednesday morning was struck and killed by a CTA Pink Line train after he fell into the train's path at a Near West Side station.
The man has been identified as Sergio Acevedo, 59, of the 2000 block of West Cullerton in Chicago, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.
At 7:19 a.m., emergency crews were dispatched to the Polk Street stop, at 1713 W. Polk St., to extricate a person under the train, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Rich Rosado said.
The person made contact with the train and power was initially shut off to the tracks between the Damen and Ashland stops, CTA spokeswoman Kimberly Myles said.
The Polk Street station is on the south end of the Illinois Medical District, near several Rush University and University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center buildings. But the victim was dead on the scene and no hospital transport was necessary, Rosado said.
The man was reportedly on his way to a hospital and "mis-stepped," falling in the path of the train, a source said. Witnesses also told police they saw the man fall onto the tracks.
The body was extricated from the tracks about 8 a.m., the medical examiner's office said.
Service between Damen and Ashland on the Pink Line was temporarily suspended, and a shuttle bus was pressed into service for Pink Line passengers between the two stations, according to the CTA. By just after 9 a.m., Pink Line service was back to normal.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
