Fatality tracker: Person dies at Ravenswood platform

By Steven Vance On May 29, 2012 · 13 Comments

A train passes over Lawrence Avenue at the Ravenswood Metra station.

2012 Chicago fatality stats*:
Pedestrian: 6 (5 have been from hit-and-run crashes, the other person was struck by a train)
Pedalcyclist: 0
Transit: 5 (the previous four were from a 30-day period in March-April)

A northbound UP North Metra train struck and killed a person on the platform at the Ravenswood station (4800 N Ravenswood) on Tuesday, May 29. The train was not scheduled to stop there.

The pedestrian was killed in the incident, but officials are not releasing his or her identity Tuesday night, a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said. CBS2

If you find more information, please leave a note or link in the comments. The station is being reconstructed.

* The information is only accurate as of this post’s publishing time and includes only people who died in the Chicago city limits. View previous Fatality Tracker posts.

blueducttape

I talked to the Metra conductor this morning. It was a suicide.
People I know had an especially difficult time getting home due to the purple/red/brown lines also being stopped yesterday due to a fire. It was not a fun day to ride public transit!

http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

Thanks for the update.

The fatality tracker will continue to track suicide attempts (mainly because it’s rarely known or confirmed which deaths are/aren’t).

Jeff

35 year old male that definitely meant to jump in front of the train. He spoke to the Conductor on the previous train and told him “Your train isn’t the one I want, I am waiting to get the next train.” He also placed his phone on the platform and jumped in front of a train that was moving 70 M.P.H.

http://www.facebook.com/raaaven Raven Oliver

Jeff, yours is the only information I’ve hear about the sex or age of the pedestrian. Are you a Metra representative? Were you a passenger? I really want to find out what happened but there is no coverage or follow-up after that day.

Jared Kachelmeyer

Out of curiosity any idea what percent of Metra fatalities are suicides?

http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

I think this is the first suicide by Metra train in Chicago in 2012 (and it’s the first non-pedestrian Metra death). Someone committed suicide on the CTA system earlier this year. The first death by Metra train in Chicago this year was a woman walking on the street at a grade crossing near Beverly.

Jtorcaso

Wrong.

http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

If my information is wrong, help me correct it.

Right

3 Lake Forest students committed suicide on the north shore in the suburbs…..2 on metra UP-N and 1 on metra milwaukee North……

http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

I only track Chicago.
Jenbluedog

You are right. All male and all within 3 months. Very sad.

Ronlau

Was the fatality a ped or a cyclist? I was a passenger on the train. We were stopped for two hours while the police completed their investigation.

http://www.stevevance.net/ Steven Vance

The news report labeled the person a “pedestrian”, but I don’t believe that’s the best description. The person was on a platform, which makes me think the person intended to become a “passenger” on Metra. Another commenter says a conductor told them the person committed suicide.