PLEASANT PRAIRIE — A vehicle was hit by a freight train Thursday morning after two men stole the car while fleeing from a robbery.
It all started at a BP gas station in Pleasant Prairie. Police say two men with guns robbed a store clerk, and then took off.
Around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, Pleasant Prairie police say they responded to a robbery at the BP on Sheridan Road. An employee told officers two men with guns confronted her.
"They demanded her purse, grabbed her purse from her, and then they also demanded her car keys," said Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana.
Pam Jackson has been a store clerk at the BP gas station for nearly 15 years and says what happened to her co-worker Thursday morning was devastating.
"She's a really good employee, me and her clicked right away. It's just sad that you can't even go to work without feeling safe or really going anywhere anymore. I just hope nothing happens to me," said Jackson.
Police say at some point shots were fired and the two guys took off in the clerk's car. That car was later found hit by a freight train just a few minutes away. It had been pushed for nearly a mile down the tracks in Zion, Illinois. Lake County Sheriff's deputies arrested one man, but they're still looking for a second man who they say may be armed.
"That individual is out there. Lake County did an extensive search of the area, including drones and K9," said Chief Smetana.
Police said the suspect is around 5'8", Hispanic, average build, and was wearing a mask.
He may have exited the vehicle prior to it being hit by the freight train. Officials said he is no longer believed to be in the area.
Pleasant Prairie's chief reminds people to remain vigilant.
"Even though these incidents don't occur very frequently in Pleasant Prairie, we see now that they can occur," said Chief Smetana.
Police say the BP employee was not hurt during the robbery. If you have any information on this incident, contact the Pleasant Prairie Police at (262)-694-7353.
