Despite red-alert winter storm warnings Thursday, an icy blizzard never really materialized in the Landmark area last Friday, though some schools were closed and Brookfield endured a snow-removal related mishap that resulted in a public works Bobcat being demolished by a passing train.
While areas north and northwest of Chicago received over eight inches of snow in some cases, by Friday afternoon between three and four inches of snow had fallen over the near southwest suburbs, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago.
“It worked out as best as it probably could for the Chicago area,” Izzi said.
Despite that, several schools were closed, including St. Mary in Riverside, St. Barbara in Brookfield and St. Louise de Marillac in LaGrange Park. District 95 schools in Brookfield and LaGrange Park were shut down as well as Komarek School in North Riverside.
In Brookfield, however, Metra train service on the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad was delayed for up to an hour Friday morning after an empty commuter train heading westbound struck a Brookfield public works snow plow that had fallen on to the tracks.
According to Brookfield officials a village employee was clearing snow from the north platform at the Prairie Avenue station at 6:30 a.m. when the Bobcat plow slipped off the edge and onto the northernmost track.
The employee reportedly called police and Metra, but the train arrived within a minute of the accident and rammed the Bobcat. No one was injured.
The Bobcat, purchased last year, was destroyed. Assistant Village Manager Keith Sbiral said that a replacement vehicle was ordered Friday and was slated to arrive before more snow predicted for Saturday. Insurance is expected to cover the $16,000 to $17,000 cost for replacement of the plow.
-Bob Uphues