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Police: 2 Metra Train Collisions With Abandoned Cars Are Related

DES PLAINES, Ill. (CBS) -- Investigators believe two recent collisions between Metra trains and cars left on the tracks at the same Des Plaines crossing are related.

As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, Des Plaines police say they are investigating some promising leads, as they try to find out who abandoned cars on the Metra North Central Line tracks a week ago Tuesday, and this past Monday, at the Seegers Road crossing in Des Plaines.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports

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Both incidents happened in the early morning hours, and halted Train No. 100, which arrives in Chicago from Antioch at 6:55 a.m. each weekday.

"They're at the same time. They are apparently the same commuter (train) that's passing through at that time. Both cars were stolen out of different jurisdictions, and both keys were in the ignition," said Deputy Chief Mike Kozak.

In the incident on Tuesday, Nov. 29, the wrecked car became stuck to the front of the train and had to be pried off. The train was delayed significantly s a result.

In the Monday incident, the train pushed the car out of the way and was only held up for a short time.

Kozak says investigators are looking for clues from security videos in the area, as well as talking to commuters and workers who might have been around when the collisions happened.

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