Related: Metra Invests in Cleanliness, Safety, & Sustainability in a Post-COVID World
Metra Police Save Man from Jumping Off Bridge
The incident was recorded on one of the officers’ body cameras.

The Metra Police Department is a professional force of over 140 sworn officers and civilian support staff who are responsible for the security of Metra passengers, employees, equipment, yards, stations, and other Metra property.
Photo: Metra
A pair of Metra Police officers prevented a despondent man from jumping off a bridge into a railyard, according to the company’s press release.
The incident was recorded on one of the officers’ body cameras.
The man fled his car after driving onto a closed road and into a construction zone. He stood near the bridge railing when Sgt. Will Wright and Officer Andrea Clunie confronted him. The man attempted to jump off the bridge as the officers commanded him to put his hands behind his back for an arrest, but the officers immediately grabbed him and pulled him back.
“I am immensely proud of the job these two officers did in this incident, not only by their quick reactions to pull this individual to safety but also by their positive words to him as they did so,” said Jim Derwinski, Metra CEO, and executive director. “They are outstanding representatives of Metra and the Metra Police Department and they truly embody the spirit of My Metra.”
The incident happened Sept. 15 on the 127th Street bridge over the Metra railyard in Blue Island. The street and the bridge were closed because Metra was rebuilding the road’s crossing with the Metra Electric Blue Island Branch tracks at 127th and Lincoln, just east of the bridge.
Construction was ending for the day around 5:30 p.m. when workers saw an eastbound white Honda Accord go around two signs on 127th that said, “Road Closed,” and drive into the construction zone.
The officers waved at the driver to try to get him to stop but he continued until his car got stuck in the impassable crossing.
The workers then saw the driver get out of the car and walk back the way he had driven, onto the 127th Street bridge. According to the release, the man was crying and saying he was sorry before he attempted to go over the bridge railing. He was arrested and taken to Ingalls Hospital for evaluation after his arrest was processed.
More Rail

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion
Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.
Read More →
San Diego MTS Breaks Monthly Trolley Ridership Record
Agency officials said July’s ridership indicates MTS’s continued recovery from the pandemic.
Read More →
Report Examines NJ TRANSIT Reliability, Funding Challenges
The Garden State Initiative analysis examines the roles of Amtrak infrastructure, fleet management, and agency operations while recommending a more performance-based approach to improving reliability.
Read More →
Stadler, CapMetro Sign Long-Term Rail Fleet Support Agreement
Beginning in 2027, Stadler will provide on-site technical expertise, spare parts support, training, and obsolescence management to help extend the reliability and longevity of CapMetro’s GTW fleet.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
CATS Gold Line Marks 5 Years of Service, 2.8M Passenger Trips
With a six-mile expansion planned, the Charlotte streetcar is positioned to connect more neighborhoods and major transit hubs across the region.
Read More →
Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations
Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.
Read More →
Amtrak Begins Major Construction at New York’s Sunnyside Yard
The new maintenance facility will support Amtrak’s Airo trainsets while improving maintenance efficiency and turnaround times in New York.
Read More →
Chicago Leaders Unveil Plans for O’Hare Airport Express Train
The privately developed project would offer a 15-minute trip between downtown and O’Hare’s Terminal 2, with trains operating every 15 minutes on a dedicated track. The service would use battery-electric trains and three existing freight rail rights-of-way.
Read More →
OCTA Maps Out 30-Year Strategy to Protect Coastal Rail Corridor
The draft feasibility report identifies strategies to protect the coastal rail line for decades as the agency continues near-term stabilization and sand placement efforts.
Read More →