UPDATE: Witnesses Tried to Warn Driver Before Train Struck Car
Samira Baker, 19, of Mokena, died after a Metra train struck her car Wednesday night, at a crossing at 191st Street just west of LaGrange Road. Witnesses blared horns as the train approached and the engineer tried to brake.
One woman was killed Wednesday night when a Metra train struck her car at a crossing in Mokena.
Samira J. Baker, 19, of the 19200 block of Thornham Drive, died after her car was struck by a train inbound from Joliet around 9:45 p.m. at a crossing near 191st and LaGrange Road, according to Metra spokesperson Meg Reile.
Initial findings indicate the car was inside the crossing gates as the train approached. The engineer spotted the 1999 four-door Nissan and attempted to brake, throwing the engine into "emergency" mode, according to Reile. Gates were down and warning lights were flashing, the engineer recounted.
Witnesses reported that the car came to rest inside the gates—but clear of the tracks—before the gates were lowered. The car then slowly began rolling forward, onto the tracks. Witnesses told police they blared their horns in an attempt to warn the driver, as the train barreled toward the car at a reported 70 mph. But to no avail. The car was struck as it reached the second track.
Baker was alone in the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:05 a.m., according to the Will County Coroner's office. The Will County Sheriff's office has taken over the investigation.
Twenty passengers were aboard the train. They were transferred to the next train, which was delayed for about an hour.
Patch is working on further details. Check back for more.
john bruno
11:44 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Sad...such a young life lost.
Christi
12:02 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
my heart goes too this girls family... i passed the scence of the accident around 2 am as they were putting the car on the towbed.. tragic and a truely unbelieveably uppsetting sight too see............................................... TRUELY SORRY for your lose and you are in my thoughts and prayers.. GOD BLESS
Sarah
12:10 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Samira i love you and i miss you so much! You and your family will be forever in my heart<3
Darlene Kruse
12:13 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
So sorry for this families loss. They live down the block from us and my boys have been playing with Samira's younger sister. Our thoughts are with the family!
tink
3:01 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
her brothers names are tarek and moe right?
T Garcia
1:17 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
@Darlene, is this Ameera's sister? Please let me know...my daughter was in class with her. Thank you. So sad...praying.
Debi Blank
1:53 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
I am so sorry for the loss that this family is feeling. This is the sister of one of my Kindergarten friends from this year. Her sister and her were so close, I can not imagine what she and the family are going through. I am sending my prayers and a huge hug to them. I wish I could do something for the family and my little friend. So tragic.
GDLV
9:22 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Yes, Samira was Amira's older sister and practically a second mom for her.
Darlene Kruse
10:10 am on Saturday, June 16, 2012
YES!
daniel finneran
2:29 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Rip SAMIRA gone but never forgotten love your family I'm here for them
andrea
7:49 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
i was there that night when the car was struck. it was so tragic. rest in peace.
Jill
8:32 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Very sad and tragic for Samira & her family and friends, as well as the engineer and all of the witnesses, too. My heart goes out to all of you.
Anthony
1:45 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
Prayers to her family honestly so sad. She was in my study hall class at east and she was so nice. Very quite polite girl. RIP Samira baker
melissa
10:34 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
To this family,im so sorry this had to come to this
before i reported it ,but those tracks r so horrible i live im the area and pass themm tracks often,id like to shed light on some of the guestiions u have,them gates on several occasion have almost gone down on my car! The timing on them gates r off!!!!!!... Plz i hope i can help i have contacted the commander of mokena and reported it ,im sorry i didnt say something aheaed of time sincerly a sorry resident of mokena
Dan contreras
6:09 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
Poor girl. She didn't deserve to die like this.
Cindy
6:35 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
I,ve had those gates come down on my hood and windshield before..they come down too fast..had to slam on the brakes so hard. My husband has also had an issue with them as well. The timer is def off or the sensor needs to have the gates come down slower. So sad to have heard about this horrible crash because of it. Our thoughts are with the family.
tink
3:00 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
R.I.P Samira my sister worked with her her brothers names are tarek and moe.
Bob Lynch
8:06 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Thanks to Samira's classmates for the memorable candlelight vigil last night and to Dr Tingley at LWE for opening up the football field for the ceremony. I know that my daughter and many of her friends have taken this tragedy hard and I can only imagine how hard it has been for her family. Unfortunately it takes events like this to bring communities together but I commend all who were there reminding everyone to remember to say the phrase "I love you" as you never know when the time will come that you will not be able to say it to one another. While Samira is no longer with us we all know that she is watching over her family, friends and classmates.
Bob Lynch
Brittany
5:06 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
My heart goes out to this family. This family has dealt with a lot of tragedy and this was not easy for anybody. I know that Samira is looking over all of her friends and family and making sure we are all safe. Samira was a sweet young girl with a lot of potential. I hope that her family remembers to celebrate her life while mourning her death. Life is short, and it is always made evident when young lives are taken from us. There will never be an answer as to why it happened, but we all know that everything happens for a reason. There is nothing more important than life, and to treasure the peopel that are in it because we could never know when they will get taken from us. Rest in Paradise Samira <3