Update: Newman Resident Dies in Amtrak Tractor Crash
Shortly after 7 p.m. on the night of April 24th, Brent E. Stewart, 42, had just finished his work when tragedy struck and an Amtrak train hit his vehicle. Stewart worked for a farm chemical company, and was an Illini FS employee.
Stewart lived in Newman, and was driving an Ag-Chem TerraGator, which is a three-wheeled fertilizer applicator. One of the tires was recovered several yards away from where the crash happened.
Stewart pulled out in front of the oncoming train, exiting the field at an unmarked crossover. The train hit Stewart straight on, and he had to be cut out of the cab by Savoy and Tolono firefighters.
Traffic was completely stopped in that area, close to the Wal-Mart in Savoy, for about an hour.
After Stewart was cut out of the vehicle, he was airlifted by helicopter to Carle Foundation Hospital.
Sadly, Stewart was pronounced dead at 8:24 p.m. Amtrak officials sent a tow vehicle to get the damaged train and take it to the Illinois Terminal shortly after the incident.
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