Clifford Law Offices filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2024, against Union Pacific Railroad Company, Metra Railroad, and the Village of Barrington in the death of a 17-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a train at a Barrington, Illinois railroad crossing without pedestrian gates.
James Pullos, Kristofer Riddle, and Joseph Murphy, partners at Clifford Law Offices, filed the case on behalf of the family of Marin Lacson in the January 25, 2024, death of their daughter as she crossed the tracks at the Hough Street railroad crossing on her way to school in the far northern suburb.
The 34-page complaint alleges negligence against defendants Union Pacific Railroad Company, Metra Railroad, and the Village of Barrington for their failure to adequately warn and protect pedestrians at the Hough Street railroad crossing despite at least two prior occasions where trains struck pedestrians. According to information provided by the Illinois Commerce Commission, even after these prior pedestrian casualties, no engineering study was ever performed to assess the risk of train collisions with pedestrians at this crossing, and no action has ever been taken to improve pedestrian safety at this crossing. This lack of safety measures proves especially troublesome in this community because this crossing is located in what is called a “Quiet Zone,” which means that horns are not to be sounded except at the train operator’s discretion.
The day of Marin’s death was one of dense fog, and at the time she was heading to high school at about 7:45 a.m., two trains approached the Hough Street crossing at the same time from opposite directions along the Union Pacific Northwest line. After the outbound train departed the Hough Street crossing, and due to lack of the train horn, safety warnings, and significantly reduced visibility, Marin stepped into the path of an inbound train approaching on a second track.
“Marin’s death was entirely preventable. Marin merely attempted to cross over the sidewalk on her way to school after the first train passed through the crossing. Without any warnings to alert her that an inbound train was coming from the opposite direction and without notice that this inbound track was what is sometimes called a ‘hot rail,’ Marin was unaware there was a second train approaching,” Pullos said. “Instead of showing urgency for the community safety, no action was ever taken to address the long-standing safety concerns at this crossing.”
For further information or to speak to attorney James Pullos, contact Clifford Law Offices Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909 (cell) or pammenaker@cliffordlaw.com.
Media:
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- Filed Complaint (9/18/24)
- Complaint of Michael Lacson
- Statement by Michael Lacson
- Photos (Pictures and video Courtesy of Clifford Law Offices)
- Lacson Family Photo 1
- Lacson Family Photo 2
- Marin Lacson Photo 1
- Marin Lacson Photo 2
- Hart Crossing Barrington
- Hough Street Crossing (Facing Northeast)
- Hough Street Crossing (Facing South)
- James Street Crossing (Barrington)
- Main Street Crossing (Barrington)
- Pedestrian Gate Example
- Warning for Another Train Approaching