"The engineer looked right into the eyes of the man," Nygren said. 
 
 Nygren said the engineer spotted Pagano about five to 10 seconds before impact. Pagano was standing in the middle of the tracks, facing the front of train, and the engineer braked but could not stop in time. 
 
 Pagano -- under investigation for financial irregularities -- parked at a nearby gravel lot shortly before 8 a.m. and walked in front of the train just west of Terra Cotta Road on Hillside Road in Crystal Lake , McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said at an afternoon news conference. 
 
 Metra executive director Philip Pagano left a note indicating he was going to commit suicide before he walked in front of a Metra train this morning and was killed, officials say. 
 
 The sheriff said evidence found on his body and at Pagano's home -- including a letter -- appeared to indicate he was going to commit suicide. 
 
 "He left some written documents behind," Nygren said. "I would describe it as a letter indicating his intentions." 
 
 Nygren declined to elaborate on what evidence was found at the scene, but a source told the Tribune that Pagano's wallet was found on his body, along with a copy of Metra's procedures on how to handle a service disruption after a suicide. 
 
 Asked if Pagano told anyone of his plans, Nygren said he may have talked with one or more friends by telephone in the last 24 hours. The sheriff did not disclose the content of the calls. 
 
 McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz said the incident is still under investigation "but at this point it appears to be a suicide." She said an autopsy may be conducted Saturday. 
 
 The site of the incident is surrounded by a cornfield and an Illinois Prairie Path trailhead with a small gravel parking lot. There are a few homes nearby but set back from the tracks. Officials said there were 24 passengers on the train, plus two Metra crew members and the engineer, who is a Union Pacific employee. 
 
 Two miles away, McHenry County sheriff's investigators were going through Pagano's home in Crystal Lake. An investigator walked out of the house with evidence bags but they appeared empty. 
 
 "The follow-ups that we're doing are not out of the ordinary from what we would be doing for any death investigation," said Sgt. James Popovits of the McHenry County sheriff's office. 
 
 At about 12:15 p.m., an investigator escorted a woman from the house to a car. 
 
 Pagano had been on paid administrative leave from Metra while his finances were under investigation. He was found dead hours before the Metra board of directors was to meet on his job status. The meeting was abruptly canceled at about 9 a.m. 
 
 Pagano had met with Metra investigators on Wednesday, acknowledging his role in the irregularities and expressing remorse, a source said. 
 
 On Thursday, the Cook County state's attorney's office said it had launched a criminal probe into possible financial irregularities by Pagano, who had been executive director since 1990. 
 
 Metra released a statement saying it was with "great sadness that we report the passing this morning of Philip A. Pagano." 
 
 "Phil served this agency with distinction for many years," the agency said. "Today, we shall remember the good work he achieved with our board of directors and the men and women of Metra. He was dedicated to our passengers and he always considered the men and women of Metra his family and there is a tremendous sense of loss within the agency. 
 
 "We shall remember him as a dedicated husband, father and grandfather who loved his family more than anyone. Our deepest sympathies as well as our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and all those who loved him." 
 
 Members of Metra's board of directors and employees expressed shock and sorrow at the death of the longtime head of the agency. 
 
 Board member Jack Partelow was visibly upset as he left Metra headquarters. "It's a very, very sad day," he said. 
 
 Other employees would only shake their heads with dismay as they arrived at the building at 547 W. Jackson Blvd. 
 
 Attorney George Jackson III, who represented Pagano, wouldn't comment on his client's legal issues today, "out of respect to the grieving family." Jackson said he had spent a considerable amount of time with Pagano in the past week, and called Pagano "a wonderfully nice guy." 
 
 
 
 Rep. Dan Lipinski, who worked closely with Pagano on transportation issues, released the following statement regarding Pagano's death: 
 
 "I am terribly saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Pagano. I greatly enjoyed working with Phil, who in my experience was always a responsive and hardworking public servant who looked out for the best interests of Metra riders. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and coworkers at Metra." 
 
 -- Richard Wronski, Carlos Sadovi and Dan Simmons 
 
 
 
 

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– The head of the Chicago area's commuter rail system, who had been placed on leave last week as Metra investigated allegations that he paid himself a $56,000 bonus without authorization, committted suicide this morning—by walking in front of a train from the system he headed. Philip Pagano, 60, left behind "a letter indicating his intentions," the local sheriff said. The Cook County state's attorney's office had said yesterday Pagano was also under criminal investigation, the Tribune reports. A federal probe was also in the early stages, according to the Sun-Times. Just before 8am, Pagano stepped onto the Metra tracks in Crystal Lake, facing the oncoming train. With less than 10 seconds to react, the train couldn't be stopped. "The engineer looked right into the eyes of the man," said the sheriff.