Nov. 11--A 23-year-old Oak Lawn man and his passenger escaped injury early Wednesday after scrambling from their car moments before it was struck by a train at a closed rail crossing in Alsip, police said.
Raymond Dearth was charged with disobeying a train signal and a traffic control device after the 2:49 a.m. incident at 123rd Street and Lombard Lane, police said.
Dearth was driving a Chevy Monte Carlo east on 123rd Street when the vehicle hit a pile of broken asphalt and a concrete barrier at the crossing, police said in a statement. The car flipped and landed in a ditch between two train tracks. Both occupants exited the car before the CSX train, decelerating at about 27 mph, struck it, police said.
Police said the crossing roadway has been closed for construction for about 10 days.
Barriers and warnings about the closure are present at the crossing and nearby area, police said. The crossing's warning system, which includes gates, bells and lights, was functioning correctly, police said.
Dearth and the passenger were transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn as a precaution, police said.
Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter.
