The girls attended Pleasantdale Elementary School, while the vehicle’s driver was hospitalized with serious injuries after the morning collision.
WESTERN SPRINGS, Ill. — Two elementary school girls were killed and a woman was seriously injured Wednesday morning when an Amtrak train struck their vehicle at the Wolf Road railroad crossing in Western Springs, authorities and school officials said.
The collision happened shortly after 8 a.m. Nov. 11 as westbound Amtrak train No. 381 traveled from Chicago toward Quincy. The two children were students at Pleasantdale Elementary School in nearby La Grange. Authorities had not publicly released their names or ages as of Thursday, and investigators had not announced what caused the vehicle to be on the tracks when the train arrived.
Western Springs officials said preliminary information indicated the railroad crossing gates were functioning and engaged at the time of the crash. That finding remained preliminary, and the circumstances leading up to the collision were still under investigation. Officials had not released a final determination explaining how or why the vehicle entered or remained within the crossing.
The woman driving the vehicle was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood with severe injuries, according to local officials and news reports. Authorities had not released a detailed update on her condition Thursday. Witnesses told local news organizations that people from nearby businesses rushed toward the damaged vehicle and helped the woman get away from it before emergency crews took over.
Amtrak said none of the passengers or crew aboard the train reported injuries. The railroad said 35 passengers and crew members were aboard when the train made contact with the vehicle just west of La Grange. Those aboard were removed from the train, and Amtrak arranged alternate bus transportation for customers continuing to stops between La Grange and Quincy.
The crash also caused major disruptions on Metra’s BNSF Line, which uses the same tracks through Chicago’s western suburbs. Rail service was halted for hours Wednesday, and multiple trains were canceled as investigators and emergency workers remained at the scene. The Wolf Road and Grand Avenue crossings were temporarily closed before authorities later reopened the area and rail service began returning.
Pleasantdale School District 107 Superintendent Dave Palzet confirmed that the two children were elementary school students in the district. “Words cannot express the heartbreak and sorrow we feel as we mourn this devastating loss,” Palzet said in a statement. The district brought in counselors, social workers and crisis-response staff to help students and employees following the deaths.
By Thursday, flowers and candles had been placed near the Western Springs train station as members of the community mourned the children. School officials said the girls had attended Pleasantdale since kindergarten. The Village of Western Springs also arranged for social workers to be available at Village Hall for people who witnessed the collision and needed support after the crash.
Investigators continued examining the collision Thursday. Village officials said the initial information about the crossing equipment showed the gates appeared to be operating properly, but officials had not announced a cause or released a final investigative finding. Authorities also had not publicly identified the children, leaving their family additional privacy as the investigation continued.
Author note: Last updated November 12, 2026.