Update: 9 injured when car and MetroLink train collide near Washington Park station

Nine people were injured when a car and a MetroLink train collided Sunday afternoon near the Washington Park station, authorities said.

All nine were taken to area hospitals, said Assistant Chief Ronnie Harris of the Washington Park Fire Department. Two of the injured - the driver of the car and someone on the train - were in critical condition. An update on their conditions Monday was not available.

The car burst into flames after the collision, authorities said.

Initial reports about the crash were that the driver had minor injuries and there were no injuries on the train, but those reports were incorrect.

MetroLink service between the Emerson Park and Fairview Heights stations resumed Sunday evening. The commuter service was temporarily operating on a single track between the two stations, so passengers may see minor delays, MetroLink said in a statement Sunday night.

Harris said: “The fire department received a call at 4:20 p.m. reporting a car versus train (collision) with train derailment, possible entrapment involving the driver who hit the train.”

Harris said that while firefighters were on their way to the accident, they received a report that the driver was out of the car but was unresponsive. The car was smoking.

When firefighters arrived on scene, Harris said, “`the car was fully engulfed.”

Harris said the fire was extinguished within eight to 10 minutes after firefighters arrived.

“Other fire crews were called in to coordinate with MetroLink and Metro Security that is operated out of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department to get the other citizens off of the train and to get the train back on the track,” Harris said.

Harris said Washington Park Fire Department cleared the scene at 7:42 p.m.

This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 8:48 PM.