Family heartbroken after CTA worker electrocuted on Blue Line tracks
A CTA worker was killed after she fell on the tracks. (WLS)
By Diane Pathieu
Saturday, June 11, 2016 06:22PM
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A woman who worked for the CTA was killed after tripping and falling on the tracks and being electrocuted at the Addison Blue Line stop overnight, police say.
The Medical Examiner's office identified the victim as 40-year-old Pearl Hendrix.
Pearl Hendrix
CTA officials say construction was taking place on the Addison stop as part of the ongoing CTA reconstruction project when she was electrocuted. Hendrix worked as a flagman - a person who signals trains about upcoming work on or near the tracks.
Blue Line trains were halted for over an hour, but resumed service around 2:40 a.m.
Vernon Hendrix said his daughter Pearl enjoyed working for the CTA. When he got the news Saturday morning, he was heartbroken.
"I was kind of numb," he said. "I couldn't speak of for a minute."
Hendrix was going to school for business management while working. Her family said they hope her death will bring about some changes.
"We want to see safety measures taken so that it doesn't happen to anyone else," said Terrance Wilson, Pearl's brother-in-law.
Hendrix was surrounded by a large family that loved her. Her loss is being felt by them all.
"She's just gonna be really missed," said Anthony Taylor, Pearl's brother.
The Medical Examiner's office ruled that the death was an accident.