Metra Chief Dead In Apparent Suicide

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 7, 2010 4:00PM

Metra chief Phil Pagano, recently placed on leave as the investigation into his alleged financial misdealings intensifies, has died of an apparent suicide this morning in which he walked in front of a Metra train. Metra board members had scheduled a meeting for this morning at which they were expected to fire Pagano but it was cancelled after reports of Pagano's death came out. The accident occurred near Hillside and Terra Cotta roads by Sternes Woods Park in Crystal Lake. According to the Northwest Herald:

"It appears to be a suicide," Sheriff Keith Nygren said. Nygren would not confirm the identity of the victim.

The sheriff said there appeared to be no car near the train tracks, and that the victim appeared to walk on them.

Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin had called for a federal investigation into Pagano's actions and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office announced yesterday that their public corruption unit was opening a criminal probe.