Overview
- A fallen tree struck the CTA Yellow Line tracks in Evanston late Thursday, forcing a stopped train to be evacuated after it lost power, the Evanston Fire Department confirmed.
- Emergency crews used chainsaws to cut a narrow path through wooded terrain and deployed ropes to help passengers descend a steep embankment to safety.
- Reporters and riders said about 31 passengers were moved off the train and that people remained onboard for roughly an hour before evacuation began.
- No widespread injuries were reported; firefighters also rescued an elderly couple from a St. Charles home hit by a fallen tree and crews documented storm damage to houses in Elmhurst.
- The incident is one of several wind- and rain-driven tree failures across Chicago suburbs that night, a pattern that can cause short-term transit outages, local property damage and ongoing cleanup and inspection needs.