A 20-year-old Maple Park man was killed today (Tuesday, March 21, 2017) when he was struck by a train near Maple Park.

According to a Kane County Sheriff’s Office news release, a preliminary investigation indicates that John Berens, 20, was walking east down the middle of Union Pacific Rail Road tracks about a half mile east of  Maple Park in unincorporated Virgil Township shortly before 1:40 a.m., when he was struck by a westbound train.

Berens was pronounced deceased at the scene.

“Detectives are not sure why he was walking down the tracks or if he was aware of the approaching train,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The Union Pacific line was shut down until about 6:30 a.m. as the accident was investigated.

SOURCE: Kane County Sheriff’s Office