The Yorkville man who died May 5 when he was struck by a freight train on the Union Pacific-West railroad tracks at the Third Street crossing in downtown Geneva has been identified by authorities.
According to a press release from the Kane County Coroner, Douglas Johnson, 49, died from blunt force trauma injuries related to the accident. Toxicology results remain pending.
Johnson was the father of four children.
Geneva Police and Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the scene at 8:53 p.m. on Friday, May 5, for a train accident involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, police officers met with two men and located Johnson near the tracks east of Third Street. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
The two men advised they witnessed the tragic accident along with multiple witnesses in the area. Preliminary indications are all three men exited a westbound Metra train on the south side of Third Street. Their vehicle was parked on the north side of the tracks. With the Metra train parked to unload passengers and the emergency guardrail arms still down and flashing, the three men went underneath the arms to cross the tracks. Two men made it safely, but the Johnson was struck by an eastbound freight train on the north track.
The stopped freight train blocked both the Third Street and Western Avenue crossings for more than two hours due to the emergency response.
The accident remains under investigation by the Geneva Police Department and the Kane County Coroner’s Office.
