A Bloomington woman was hit and killed by a train Monday near Wenona.

A railroad surveyor found Emily K. Valluri dead shortly before noon near the tracks about two miles south of Wenona along the line between La Salle and Marshall counties. The crew of the train that struck the 29-year-old Valluri did not know they had done so. Marshall County Coroner Dave Lenz Jr. explained the crew was focused on looking for a signal ahead.

Lenz said Valluri had been driving a 4-wheel-drive Toyota Pathfinder north on nearby Interstate 39, then turned off the road and drove south through a field for about one half mile, reaching the tracks that are on a gravel bed elevated about 10 feet. She apparently tried to cross the tracks — the tracks roughly run east-west — but failed, with the vehicle blowing two tires and sliding backward. Valluri then exited her SUV and was struck. Trains travel those tracks about every 15 minutes at speeds between 50 and 75 mph. No homes are near.

Valluri was last seen at 8 a.m. Monday at her home, which is about 35 miles south of the scene where she died. Lenz said foul play is not suspected, but as of Tuesday morning he and state police were trying to piece together details. An autopsy was set for Tuesday. Valluri worked for an Internet company in Normal.