Metra train strikes, kills young woman in Mokena

A 23-year-old woman died Thursday night at the Hickory Creek Metra station in Mokena, when a passing train hit her.

Kathryn M. Joost of Palos Heights was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the station, located in the 9400 block of Hickory Creek Drive, according to a news release from the Will County Coroner’s Office.

An official from the coroner's office said a Metra train had hit her, and Metra police were investigating the incident.
An autopsy was scheduled for Friday.

Some Rock Island line trains were canceled and others had extensive delays because of the incident, beginning about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the line's Twitter account. Metra also shared its typical protocol when a train hits a pedestrian, saying riders should expect delays of two to three hours.

“It is our goal to minimize the impact of such incidents on our passengers’ rides,” Metra officials said.

The Metra Rock Island line travels from Joliet to the LaSalle Street station in Chicago.