Driver ignored crossing gate, struck by Pink Line train in Cicero

SUN TIMES MEDIA WIRE - CICERO (Sun-Times Media Wire) - A 32-year-old woman was charged with driving under the influence when her car was struck by a CTA Pink Line train early Thursday while she tried to drive around a crossing gate in west suburban Cicero.

About 2 a.m., the silver 2013 Nissan went around the downed crossing gate and struck the side of a westbound train just west of the Cicero station at 2134 S. Cicero Ave., according to CTA spokesman Brian Steele and town of Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania.

The driver, Brisa Lopez, and her passenger, a male, abandoned the car, Hanania said. Lopez was found in the 2100 block of South 50th Avenue, and the passenger was found at 15th Street and 49th Avenue about 30 minutes later.

Both were taken into custody, Hanania said.

Lopez and the CTA train operator were taken to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn with minor injuries, Hanania said.

The train had about 10 passengers at the time of the crash, none of whom were injured, Steele said.

Steele said the train “wasn’t too damaged,” but the crossing gate was damaged and CTA was working to fix it Thursday morning.

Lopez was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, driving around a rail gate or signal, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license and driving under the influence of alcohol, Hanania said.