TV journalist, 22, killed by oncoming train while crossing Chicago commuter rail tracks

A young woman was struck and killed while crossing the train tracks at a Chicago station - and now her family is fighting to improve safety measures.

Grace Bentkowski, 22, died after crossing the tracks at Hegewisch station with an obstructed view on July 25.

She graduated from Ball State University in May and recently started as an Associate Creative Producer for NewsNation.

The TV journalist was commuting home to Dyer, Indiana via the South Shore Line and followed several others crossing the tracks towards the parking lot but tragically seemed unaware of the barreling train coming towards her. 

'No noise, no nothing. From the video all you hear is a thud, then the engineer blows a horn,' father Phil Bentkowski told WGN.

Grace Bentkowski (pictured), 22, graduated from Ball State University in May and recently started as an Associate Creative Producer for NewsNation

The TV journalist was struck and killed while crossing the train tracks at Hegewisch station (pictured) on July 25

'Her phone wasn't damaged, she wasn't on it and had her AirPods in her purse,The only thing in her hand was her car keys.' 

Footage of the incident showed Grace saw others crossing the tracks but her view was obstructed by a large pillar, according to her family.

'My initial thought was "that’s not possible." I was under the assumption that if you were hit by a train leaving the station, obviously it wouldn’t be that fast and worst case was maybe a broken leg. It’s the worst nightmare ever,' Phil Bentkowski said,

'It's such a safety issue, this is 2024, I don't understand why there isn't "stop, look, listen" safety signs — it makes no sense. She was thrown 50 feet.' 

Now her family is fighting for better safety measures and looking for answer on how this happened, sighting a lack of signage and no safety arms surrounding the tracks at the station.

Family and friends remembered Grace Bentkowski as a hardworking journalist with a bright future ahead of her.

'She was beautiful inside and out,' grandmother Maryann O'Neill told the local news outlet. 

Footage of the incident showed Grace saw others crossing the tracks but her view was obstructed by a large pillar

Family and friends remembered Grace Bentkowski as a hardworking journalist with a bright future ahead of her

'She knew what she wanted to do in life and it was the news. (When asked about other schools) she said "no, it's Ball State" — that's where I want to go. She was blessed in so many different ways.' 

'She was a striving journalist and the hardest worker there is. She managed to make such a big impact at 22 years old, and I wish we could've had her here longer,' her brother Adian Bentkowski said in a GoFundMe.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, who operates the South Shore Line said they believe the station is safe but will be adding in interim warning signs.

'We are reaching out to an engineering firm to determine what it will take to add active warning to the pedestrian crossings,' the organizations said.

'In the interim, we are installing warning signage, and, although not required by law, the South Shore Line will institute a train whistle board to sound as trains approach the crossings.'