The executive director of the Chicago area’s Metra commuter train service died of an apparent suicide on Friday after he stepped into the path of one of his agency’s trains, authorities said.
Phil Pagano, 60, was on paid administrative leave at the time of his death after Metra began investigating allegations that he received an unapproved US$56,000 bonus.
McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said a train engineer put on the emergency brakes when he saw Pagano on the tracks about 80km northwest of Chicago on Friday morning, but was unable to stop. Pagano died instantly, he said.
“He stood on the tracks and he faced the train as the train was coming toward him,” Nygren said.
Pagano’s death came just hours before the Metra board of directors was scheduled to have an emergency meeting to discuss the investigation. Metra later canceled the meeting.
Two written notes were found, one in Pagano’s pocket and one at his home, Nygren said.
“They’re the type of note that would lead us to believe that this was an intentional act on the part of the deceased,” Nygren said. “We have no reason to believe there’s anything criminal involved in this.”
Metra, a commuter train system that serves Chicago and its suburbs, announced on April 30 that Pagano was under investigation and that he had been placed on paid administrative leave from his US$269,000-a-year job. Metra had hired an attorney to investigate allegations that the Metra executive director of 20 years had received an unauthorized US$56,000 bonus. No further details were immediately available.
The McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz said an autopsy was tentatively scheduled for yesterday. Pagano’s wife and daughter were notified earlier on Friday, the sheriff said.
Police said none of the 24 passengers and three employees aboard the Metra train were injured.
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