TV Producer, 22, Killed by Train in Chicago: ‘Worst Nightmare Ever’

A journalist for NewsNation was killed late last month after being hit by a train in Chicago.

Grace Bentkowski, 22, a creative producer for the network, was struck at Hegewisch South Shore station on July 25, according to FOX59, Deadline and WGN-TV.

“Grace Bentkowski was a rising star at NewsNation,” Jonathan Killian, Vice President, Creative Marketing and Brand Standards, said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “Her passion for journalism and eagerness to learn the ropes was infectious and her willingness to jump in and learn the TV news business was inspiring to her colleagues. Grace was one of those rare people who brought light into any room in which she entered.”

“We are heartbroken for her loved ones and family, and she will never be far from our hearts,” added Killian, the head of her department.

According to Bentkowski’s LinkedIn page, she started working at NewsNation in May and graduated from Ball State University in Indiana.

Her family told WGN-TV that shortly before her death, she had messaged them to say she was going shopping after getting off early from her shift at NewsNation, which is based in downtown Chicago. 

She then began her commute back home to Dyer in Indiana, and when exiting her train at Hegewisch station — where passengers have to walk across the train tracks to access the parking lot, according to the outlet — her family said she saw other commuters in front of her cross the tracks, however, her view was obstructed by a concrete pillar. 

“We have the kids on a Life360 app and we saw that she got on the train,” Grace’s father Phil Bentkowski told the outlet. “And then a delay came up on the South Shore website. The next one said train-pedestrian accident. I thought, ‘Glad it’s probably not her.' ”

“I got a bad feeling she was the one who was hit, as soon as I saw she ended up at University of Chicago I hopped in the car and drove down there,” he added. “I spoke to District 3 CPD or transit police and they asked ‘Are you related to Grace Bentkowski?' ”

Grace was transported to the emergency room at the University of Chicago Medical Center alive, per the outlet, but after hours of surgery, she was pronounced dead. 

According to Deadline, Grace suffered internal injuries in the incident. 

“My initial thought was ‘that’s not possible,' ” her father told WGN-TV. “Was under the assumption that if you were hit by a train leaving the station, obviously it wouldn’t be that fast and worst case was maybe a broken leg. It’s the worst nightmare ever.”

The family said they viewed video of the incident and no horn was blown by the conductor and the train accelerated.

“No noise, no nothing. From the video all you hear is a thud. Then the engineer blows a horn,” Phil said, adding that his daughter was “thrown 50 feet” in the accident. 

“She was beautiful inside and out,” her grandmother Maryann O’Neill told the outlet. “She knew what she wanted to do in life and it was the news. (When asked about other schools) she said ‘No, it’s Ball State — that’s where I want to go.’ She was blessed in so many different ways.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

A GoFundMe organized by Grace’s brother, Aidan, to pay for medical costs, cremation and a celebration of life for Grace, has raised over $27,000 as of the time of publication. 

“I wish this was all a dream and I could just wake up and hold my sister one more time,” the page’s description reads. “As her brother, this is tough on me, losing my best friend, but to my parents, this is so much harder.”

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore Line, told WGN-TV that they will install interim warning signs while “reaching out to an engineering firm to determine what it will take to add active warning to the pedestrian crossings.”

Metra, who owns most of the station, according to the outlet, said they will review the incident.

“Metra is in touch with NICTD to review the circumstances of this tragic incident, they said in a statement, per the outlet. “We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of this young woman.”

Metra did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.