Palatine police are commending a Metra engineer’s “alertness and quick action,” in averting what could have been a serious incident.

A 2010 Ford Fusion driven by a 52-year-old Palatine woman was hit by a Metra train at the Quentin Road crossing about 8:30 p.m., according to police. The vehicle was between the activated railroad warning arm and the tracks, but the front bumper was in the path of a westbound train. Police said the engineer saw the vehicle with enough time to slow the train.

“The engineer spotted the vehicle and was able to come to an almost complete stop before making contact,” said Cmdr. Mike Seebacher, spokesman for the Palatine Police Department.

The train “clipped” the front bumper of the vehicle, but was going so slow it only caused cosmetic damage, Seebacher said, adding the train came to a complete stop only a few feet from the collision. The vehicle was drivable. The woman, who was not injured, was cited for disobeying a railroad signal.

The train was on the move again as of 9:30 p.m., but was running about 65 minutes late, said a Service Advisory posted on Metra’s website. It had been scheduled to arrive in Crystal Lake at 8:55 p.m.