Suicide by Train

Talk about your symbolic suicides:

The executive director of the Chicago area's Metra commuter rail service died of an apparent suicide Friday when he stepped into the path of one of his agency's trains a week after an investigation began into claims he received an unapproved $56,000 bonus, authorities said.

A train engineer put on the emergency brakes when he saw Phil Pagano on the tracks about 50 miles northwest of Chicago but was unable to stop, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said. Pagano died instantly, he said.

"He stood on the tracks and he faced the train as the train was coming toward him," Nygren said.

Pagano's death Friday morning came just hours before the Metra board of directors was scheduled to have an emergency meeting to discuss the investigation. Metra later canceled the meeting.

Two written notes were found, one in Pagano's pocket and one at his home, Nygren said.

"They're the type of note that would lead us to believe that this was an intentional act on the part of the deceased," Nygren said. "We have no reason to believe there's anything criminal involved in this."

I guess he decided to send a message they wouldn't mistake.