Investigation underway after train crew spots deceased man along …

File Photo – Lake County Sheriff’s Office | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Traffic was blocked at multiple railroad crossings after a freight train stopped after coming upon a deceased man along the train tracks in Wadsworth Saturday afternoon.

A spokesperson for Union Pacific told Lake and McHenry County Scanner the incident happened around 12:15 p.m. Saturday.

A Union Pacific train stopped after an incident involving a pedestrian on the tracks east of Stiehr Road and Delany Road in Wadsworth.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Newport Fire Protection District responded to the scene.

Paramedics confirmed the victim was deceased at the scene.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office was then called to the scene.

The coroner’s office and sheriff’s office both said the victim was believed to be already deceased when the train came upon them; however, Union Pacific said the victim was struck by the train.

Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said investigators believe the victim, an adult male, was not hit by a train.

The man sustained a possible self-inflicted wound, Newton said. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning.

The train crew was uninjured and Union Pacific working with local authorities to investigate what led up to the incident, the Union Pacific spokesperson said.

Traffic in the area was impacted due to the stopped freight train, which was blocking the railroad crossings on 21st Street, Route 173 and 9th Street.