Bartlett woke up heavy with grief this week after the sudden loss of David M. Hoday, a longtime public servant who never made it home from work. The 64-year-old Woodridge resident was doing what he had done for years. He was helping keep the town safe during winter weather. That routine task ended in tragedy.
The incident happened around 8:35 Monday morning at the crossing of Oak Avenue and Railroad Avenue in Bartlett. Hoday, a Bartlett Public Works employee, was operating a small snowplow vehicle. As he worked near the tracks, an Elgin-bound Metra District West train struck the plow.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene within minutes. Hoday was taken to a nearby hospital with severe injuries. Despite efforts to save him, he later died. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed his death later that day.
No passengers aboard the Metra train were hurt. Still, the crash shook commuters and neighbors who witnessed the aftermath. Train service through the area was temporarily disrupted as police and rail officials secured the scene and began their investigation.
Metra Police are leading the investigation alongside OSHA and federal transportation officials. Authorities are reviewing whether Hoday may have entered the crossing without seeing the approaching train. They are also examining visibility, equipment placement, and safety procedures during snow operations.
For those who worked with him, David Hoday was more than a name on a report. He was a familiar face. A steady worker. Someone who showed up early and stayed late to make sure roads were clear and residents were safe. His dedication left a mark on the town he served.
The loss has rippled through Bartlett. Coworkers are grieving a trusted colleague. Residents are mourning a man who quietly helped their daily lives run smoother. Flags, conversations, and moments of silence now carry his memory.
As the investigation continues, the community is focused on honoring Hoday’s life. He died doing public service work. The kind that often goes unnoticed until it is gone. Bartlett will remember him not for the crash, but for the years he spent showing up for others.
