Police Release Identity of Man Killed Thursday by Metra Train

Updated at 4:57 p.m.

Westmont Police Department officials investigating the death of Eric Bennett, the 31-year-old Hickory Hills man struck by a Metra train Thursday at the Cass Avenue crossing, are waiting to see Metra's onboard video from that train before releasing any information about what led to the fatal collision, Sgt. Stephen Thompson said Friday afternoon.

"At that point we’ll have more information," Thompson said.

Typically, he said, Metra gets that video to investigators within seven days of the incident. 

Original story:

The Westmont Police Department has released the identity of the man who died Thursday night after being struck by a Metra train in Westmont.

The deceased is 31-year-old Eric Bennett of Hickory Hills, according to a statement released Friday from Westmont Police Chief Thomas Mulhearn.

As Patch earlier reported, Bennett was struck by an eastbound train at 5:46 p.m. Thursday while crossing the tracks at Cass Avenue, near the Westmont BNSF station.  

READ: Male Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by BNSF Metra Train in Westmont

The train was carrying an engineer and crew, but no passengers, Mulhearn's statement says. Nobody onboard was injured.

Police still have not said what led to the collision.

"Our investigation into this incident is continuing," Mulhearn wrote. "Due to this being an active investigation we cannot release any other information at this time. Additional information will be released when it is appropriate to do so."

Reaction from Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Patch's Facebook:

• Rochelle: How sad for his him and his family. ):
• Rick: I work at Chris Angileri's State Farm Agency right south of the Westmont Centre. I'm staring at the crossing and many people disregard the gates and walk across. I've seen the police cut off pedestrians that do this and ticket them. How awful for the train engineers that have to deal with this and anyone who sees it in real time.

Reaction from Downers Grove Patch's Facebook:

• Mary: I was on the train that left Chicago at 5:26. My train was running 90 minutes late by the time we got to Downers Grove. We were probably pretty close to Westmont at the time of the accident. Several trains were able to pass us on the right while we sat there. Eventually we backed up and got on that track ourselves so we could continue.

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