CHICAGO, IL – The Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Yellow Line service remains halted due to a collision involving a passenger train and a snow plow. The incident, which occurred near North Paulina Street on the city’s North Side, led to the injury of dozens and prompted a lawsuit by a passenger affected by the crash.

In the aftermath of the Thursday morning collision, authorities reported that the southbound train ran into the snow-removal equipment in the Howard Rail Yard around 10:35 a.m. Emergency response teams quickly responded to the scene, where a total of 38 individuals reported injuries. Four children and seven CTA employees are among those who were hurt. Critical injuries were sustained by three individuals, including the train operator, with 23 requiring hospitalization. The Chicago Fire Department stated that fifteen individuals declined medical treatment at the scene.

Shortly after the harrowing event, a rider on the second train filed a legal complaint against the CTA. The plaintiff, 52-year-old Cleon Hawkins, claims to have been thrown into a metal pole within the train carriage during the impact, sustaining injuries to his shoulder and leg. Legal practitioners representing Hawkins initiated the lawsuit, though the CTA has yet to furnish a response.

The circumstances leading up to both the train and plow sharing the tracks now come under scrutiny by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigators are tasked with unraveling the details of the accident, a process that might not conclude for several months as they embark on their on-the-ground investigation starting Friday.

Meanwhile, to accommodate commuters disrupted by the Yellow Line suspension, shuttle bus services are providing transportation between Howard and Skokie-Dempster. These buses will operate during usual business hours to ensure access to all stations typically serviced by the Yellow Line.