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Virginia Girmscheid Identified as Cyclist Killed by Freight Train in Grayslake

An autopsy attributed her death to blunt force trauma as Metra police investigate a CN freight-train strike that took place after scheduled passenger service had ended.

Overview

  • A CN freight train struck a bicyclist near Lake Street and Hillside Avenue in Grayslake just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, and first responders pronounced the rider dead at the scene.
  • The Lake County Coroner's Office identified the 60-year-old victim on June 14 as Virginia Girmscheid and reported an autopsy finding of blunt force trauma from the train strike.
  • The Grayslake Police Department, the Grayslake Fire Department, and Metra Police responded to the June 9 crash and Metra police continue an active investigation into the circumstances of the collision.
  • Metra said its scheduled passenger service had already ended for the day and was not affected at the time of the incident, noting the train involved was a CN freight unit.
  • Family and community notices say Girmscheid served as a nonprofit chief financial officer and will be remembered at a planned memorial service, and authorities have not released findings about fault or contributing factors.