CHICAGO — The death of a 26-year-old suburban man who fell and touched the third rail at the Howard Red Line stop Sunday was an accident, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said.
The man was identified Monday as Jeffery Lavalle of the 1700 block of Harrison Street in Glenview, according to medical examiners.
Lavalle was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston at 8:08 p.m. Sunday.
Details were scarce Sunday evening, but CTA spokesman Brian Steele said one person fell into the right of way at about 7:15 p.m., and another person subsequently jumped down to help the person who fell.
The man who fell touched the electrified third rail, which carries 600 volts of electricity, said Officer Joshua Purkiss, a police spokesman.
Steele said it did not appear the person who fell tripped onto the tracks, nor did it appear to be a purposeful act.
Trains were delayed for about an hour.
