Preliminary investigations into a collision in an Illinois town between a train and a car have revealed that the vehicle likely drove into the railroad crossing, said a representative of the Chicago Transit Authority. The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed that a 62-year-old woman died. She had been in the vehicle, and medical personnel declared her dead after she arrived at an area hospital.

The police department in Skokie reported that firefighters had extracted two people from the twisted remains of the car. A spokesman from Evanston St. Francis Hospital said that a second female passenger from the car remains in critical condition.

The hospital spokesman added that four people on the train required treatment for minor injuries. The investigation identified the crossing where the accident took place as a graded crossing. Authorities suspended service on the rail line during their investigation.

Official investigations sometimes reveal that accidents were caused by the negligent or reckless actions of one or more parties. When a person suffers severe injuries that incur high medical expenses and lost income, a personal injury lawsuit might provide a legal way to collect compensation from those responsible for the accident. An attorney could help a victim evaluate the evidence to see if signs of negligence can be identified. Examples of negligence would include texting and driving and drunk driving. When evidence is present, the attorney could document the information and file a personal injury lawsuit seeking appropriate damages. Even if no criminal charges were filed against the at-fault motorist, the lawsuit could be successful due to the lower burden of proof required.

Source: ABC News, “1 Killed, Several Hurt in Illinois Car-Train Crash”, April 4, 2016