Budding Journalist’s Life Cut Tragically Short at 22

Grace Bentkowski’s promising career and vibrant life were tragically cut short at 22 when she was struck by a train.

At a Glance

Grace Bentkowski, a young journalist at NewsNation, was killed by a train at the Hegewisch South Shore station.
She had recently started her career and was about to move to Chicago to continue her work.
The accident occurred on July 25 while she was crossing ground-level tracks with other commuters.
Safety concerns have been raised, and her family is advocating for better alerts and signs at the pedestrian crossover.

A Rising Star’s Life Tragically Ended

Grace Bentkowski, a 22-year-old journalist at NewsNation, died after being struck by a train at the Hegewisch South Shore station on July 25. Her life and career, marked by dedication and a passion for journalism, ended abruptly and tragically. Grace had recently begun her role as a creative producer at NewsNation and was in the process of moving to Chicago.

The tragic accident occurred as she crossed the tracks, along with other commuters. Bentkowski’s parents quickly realized something was wrong upon noticing her phone’s GPS moving towards the University of Chicago Medical Center. They drove to the hospital, where they learned she had been hit and later succumbed to severe injuries.

Grim Details Emerge as Investigation Continues

Video footage revealed that the train did not sound its whistle until it started moving. Grace’s father, Phil Bentkowski, noted that a concrete pillar obstructed her view, and no warning signals were present. “It’s the worst nightmare ever,” Phil said, “[There was] no noise, no nothing. From the video, all you hear is a thud. Then the engineer blows a horn.”

Grace’s parents are deeply concerned about the lack of safety measures at the crossing. They have hired lawyers to investigate and are advocating for better alert systems. The South Shore Line has since announced plans to add warning signs and consult on active warning systems to prevent future tragedies.

“I watched the video, and the conductor didn’t blow the horn until he noticed her in front of him,” O’Neill said. “By then it was too late. Our biggest complaint and concern for everybody is that this would have never happened to Grace if there had been some kind of light or alert that signaled that a train was going to go over the pedestrian crossover.”

A Community and Family in Mourning

Grace Bentkowski graduated from Ball State University and completed several internships before joining NewsNation. Her friends and family described her as passionate and dedicated. NewsNation praised her in a statement, “Grace Bentkowski was a rising star at NewsNation. We are heartbroken for her loved ones and family, and she will never be far from our hearts.” A GoFundMe page set up by her brother has raised over $27,000 for her cremation and other expenses.

Grace’s death leaves a void in the journalism community and highlights the necessity for improved safety measures at train crossings. Her family’s fight for justice and better safety protocols continues, ensuring that her legacy will have a lasting impact on public safety.

The tragic loss of Grace Bentkowski reminds us of the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of implementing safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Her determination, zeal for journalism, and the profound sorrow felt by her community underline the deep impact she made in her short time.