Oswego Man Hit by Train While Trying to Put a Coin on Railroad Tracks: Police

An allegedly drunk Oswego man suffered non-life-threatening injuries after misjudging the width of a train while trying to set a coin on the tracks, Kendall County Sheriff’s police said Tuesday.

Police said the incident happened at around 3:40 p.m. at the crossing near Commerce Street and Light Road when a motorcyclist got off his bike to place a coin on the tracks.

The rider, 27-year-old Dean Holmstrom of the 500 block of Sudbury Circle, was trying to put the coin down just as a train passed, according to Deputy Bryan Harl.

“He misjudged the width of the train,” Harl said. “He tried to lean back and let the train go by,” but was instead struck by the train.

Holmstrom was taken to Rush-Copley Hospital in Aurora with what Harl described as non-life-threatening injuries.

Holmstrom was cited for trespassing on railroad property, failure to yield at a pedestrian grade crossing and being a pedestrian under the influence of alcohol, Harl said.

The incident happened during Illinois Rail Safety Week, which is from Sept. 14 to 20.

Related: Oswego Police Promote Rail Safety Week