The man who died after his car was hit by a Metra train Saturday in Lake Forest was a Northwestern University medical school professor and surgeon at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, hospital officials said Monday.

Dr. Victor Tsirline, 35, was killed when his car was struck by a train just west of Waukegan Road at Old Mill Road on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Tsirline, a Lincolnshire resident, was an assistant professor of gastrointestinal and endocrine surgery at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, a university official confirmed.

A statement posted with Tsirline's profile on the hospital website noted his death.

"We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Victor Tsirline," it said. "Dr. Tsirline was a talented Northwestern Medicine surgeon who contributed greatly to our surgical team in Lake Forest with his minimally invasive surgery."

Tsirline's family declined to comment Monday.

Police said Tsirline's car was carried about 100 yards by the force of the crash.

Witnesses told investigators that they saw the black sedan Tsirline was driving headed east on Old Mill when the train crossing's warning lights and bells were triggered. The gates lowered as the train approached, but the sedan went around the lowered gates and was struck, officials said.

According to Tsirline's hospital biography, he attended medical school at Rush University Medical Center, graduating in 2004, and did his residency at Loyola University Medical Center.

Police were investigating the crash Monday.

kjacobson@tribune.com