Former Kirkland police chief killed after being struck by train

LELAND – The man killed when hit by a train Monday morning was identified as a former Kirkland police chief, LaSalle County Coroner Bill Wujek said.

Stanley Smith, 55, was hit by an eastbound BNSF freight train at the crossing at 4616 E. 17th Road. He was a former police chief for the Kirkland and Leland police departments.

The coroner’s and sheriff’s offices were dispatched to the crash site about 11:42 a.m. Monday, LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office officials said in a news release. Deputies are in the process of conducting an investigation, the release said.

A cause of death has not yet been determined. Wujek said his office already conducted an autopsy and tests have been run, and now it’s a matter of waiting for results.

“It is still under investigation,” Wujek said.

Kirkland Police Chief Adam Davenport and DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott did not return requests for comment. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Andy Sullivan declined to comment.