Metra employee dies, another wounded during northwestern blast

One of the two workers injured during an explosion in the Metra railway on Saturday morning in the northwest died, officials said.

The man was pronounced dead at 12:11. to Illinois Masonic Medical Center's lawyer, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

He and another man were working on the Metra railroad tracks when he was in the 4500 block of West Byron Street in Old Irving at about 11:45, said the spokesman of the Chicago Fire Department. Juan Hernandez.

Metra employees were welding torches to repair the rails, said Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile.

Ambulances took them to Illinois Masonic Medical Center's lawyer, the other man remained in critical condition, Hernandez said.

The tracks were raised and the scene at 12:30 was "secure," Hernandez said. No smoke was leaking. "The public is not in danger," he added.

"I have no idea what caused it. They were making soldering points, "said Reile. "It's not an unusual activity."

Reile did not know how many additional workers were on the scene, but no one else was hurt.

This happened near Grayland Station, 3805 N. Kilbourn Ave. An incoming train was stopped and was expected to be more than 35 minutes late.

A group of seven uniformed Metra police officers, dressed in reflective vests, stood up and chatted, keeping passersby away from the scene.

A red truck of Chicago firefighters breathing apparatus parked nearby on Irving Park Road near North Kilbourn Avenue.

The police had no details.