Authorities have revealed the identity of the driver who lost his life in a fatal train crash on Saturday, April 5. The victim has been identified as Robert J. Merrill, 65, of Erie as per updated accident reports from the Whiteside County Coroner’s Office.

According to the details shared by the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department in Illinois, the incident took place around 12:30 p.m. Merrill was driving northbound on the Smit Road and had one other passenger in the vehicle with him. The passenger was identified as Merrill’s daughter, aged 16.

As Merrill drew near the Moline Road, the vehicle drove through a railroad crossing. A Burlington Northern train was about to pass across the crossing on the tracks. As Merrill attempted to cross the tracks before the train, the train struck his vehicle on the driver’s side.

Merrill sustained critical injuries in the train accident. His daughter was also seriously injured with her injuries reported as life-threatening. As first responders and law enforcement arrived on the scene of the crash, Merrill was pronounced dead by the Whiteside County Coroner’s Office. His daughter was airlifted to Iowa City by Medforce where she remains under treatment.

A number of local and state entities responded to the incident and reach the site of the crash. These include Erie Emergency Medical Service and Fire Department, Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department, Erie Police Department, Illinois State Police and the County Coroner’s Office.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident. Preliminary accident reports do not reveal exactly why Merrill attempted to force a crossing ahead of the train. Police have not yet ruled out speeding and other factors.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

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