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From the New York Post: A rising-star TV journalist working for NewsNation was struck and killed by a train during a freak accident in Chicago — prompting her heartbroken parents to demand better rail safety at the popular transit hub.
Grace Bentkowski, 22 — a newly-hired creative producer for the cable news network — was crossing ground-level tracks with a group of other commuters at Hegewisch South Shore station on July 25, when a train leaving the platform suddenly plowed into her, according to WGN 9.
“It’s the worst nightmare ever,” her devastated dad, Phil Bentkowski, told the outlet. “[There was] no noise, no nothing. From the video all you hear is a thud. Then the engineer blows a horn.”
In order to reach a parking lot at the station, riders must walk over the tracks — but the train failed to sound its whistle as the young journalist walked toward the lot, said Phil Bentkowski, who reviewed footage of the accident.
WGNTV reported that Grace had notified her family in a group text that she planned to go shopping after getting off early at NewsNation downtown, where she worked as a creative producer.
When she walked across the train tracks, her view was obstructed by a large concrete pillar, and she didn’t see the train.
Grace’s father, Phil Bentkowski, said all their kids are on the Life360 app, which provides GPS location data. He saw that she got off the train, then after a few minutes the GPS dot showing her location started traveling 70 to 80 miles per hour toward the University of Chicago Medical Center.
WATCH the video report below for more information, along with the interview with her devastated father.
Grace Bentkowski, 22, died after stepping off a train July 25 at the Hegewisch South Shore station and being struck by another train leaving the platform.
Her family is pushing for rail safety.https://t.co/5ubU8yvTKC
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) August 14, 2024
‘Beautiful inside and out’: Family wants answers after young journalist struck, killed at Hegewisch train station https://t.co/6pNIRm6Tes
— WGN TV News (@WGNNews) August 12, 2024
Below is a link to a report about Grace’s budding career two years ago.
This week’s Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight is live! Read about Grace Bentkowski, a college sophomore who is putting together an impressive career in journalism. 📝
Read the full story here: https://t.co/FlZndtZXRB@GBentkowski pic.twitter.com/h8uAaW3oLt
— NWI.Life (@NWIndianaLife) February 10, 2022
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