Family points to danger at Chicago’s Southeast Side station where a train hit and killed a woman

CHICAGO (CBS) – A northwest Indiana family continues to raise awareness of the dangers of a southeast Chicago commuter rail station, five weeks after a local journalist was struck and killed by a train while crossing the tracks.

Grace Bentkowski22, was struck and killed by a South Shore Line train at the Hegewisch station, 13730 S. Brainard Ave., in late July.

Bentkowskis are now making the effort: they want everyone to know that there are no lights, bells or barriers at the S-Bahn station.

Since Bentkowski’s death, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore Line, has put up yellow warning signs that read: “See tracks? Think of a train.” But the family says more needs to be done.

Mike O’Neill and his mother Maryann are Bentkowski’s uncle and grandmother, respectively. They went to the Hegewisch station and asked people if they had heard about their niece’s tragic story – and signed a petition for more safety measures.

They had never been to Hegewisch Station before and were dissatisfied with the security measures that they did not see.

“There has to be some protection,” said Maryann O’Neill. “There is nothing. Nothing.”

It was Thursday, July 25, when Bentkowski got off her South Shore Line train – and just as she was crossing the tracks, she was struck by another train leaving the station. She was just steps away from getting into her car to drive home to Dyer in northwest Indiana.

“She was following people. I saw the video,” Mike O’Neill said. “She was following people across the tracks.”

At the same place where Bentkowski was killed, members of Bentkowski’s family give purpose to their pain.

“We are protesting here and asking people to sign the petitions,” said Mike O’Neill, “so that passengers have a safer crossing and a situation similar to Grace does not occur.”

Among them were others who knew and loved Bentkowski – and one who did not know him but had known about the dangers of the Hegewisch transmitter since it opened in 2008.

“We feel – I don’t want to say guilty, but we feel terrible because we have accepted unsafe conditions – because there was no tragedy,” said Shawne Duck of South Shore Line, “and now it’s become a reality again.”

Duck was a passenger at the station and the O’Neills protested not only for their safety but also for the safety of others.

“I’m really moved by the passion of the family. They’re turning their grief into the fact that their daughter didn’t die in vain,” Duck said. “I can’t imagine it.”

And indeed, the pain remains for Bentkowski’s family.

“You know, I’m 88 years old and I never dreamed of this,” Maryann O’Neill said. “I wish God would have taken me instead of her. I don’t know. It’s too hard to go through.”

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District said changes were made to 13 stations, adding gates, lights and bells.

The district added that it will continue to invest in other safety improvements while working with an engineering firm to examine what active warning measures could be implemented.

The family said they will continue to push for greater security until passengers and their safety are put first.