GLENDALE, California (CNN) -- A commuter train derailment killed at least three people Wednesday when two trains apparently sideswiped each other in a Los Angeles suburb, Los Angeles fire officials said. The number of passengers and how many were injured in the derailment in Glendale, California, is not yet known. Videotape shows Metrolink passenger train cars on their sides with shattered windows and the metal sheeting peeled backward and crushed inward. The footage also shows several overtuned orange Union Pacific rail cars. Firefighters are struggling to reach Metrolink passengers believed to be trapped, placing ladders against the debris to get into the cars. There is no official information on how many people may still be inside.
GLENDALE, Calif. (Jan. 26) - Two Metrolink commuter trains derailed early Wednesday in this Los Angeles suburb, killing at least three people and injuring many others, authorities said. Firefighters picked through twisted wreckage and carried injured passengers from the two trains, which were on separate tracks and near a Union Pacific freight car that could be seen tipped onto its side. It was unclear if the freight car was involved in the crash. At least three people were confirmed killed, Los Angeles Fire Capt. Rex Vilaubi told KABC-TV. One of the trains was headed from Los Angeles' Union Station to downtown Burbank, and the other was bound from Union Station to Moorpark, Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said. In a light rain, firefighters were searching through wreckage from the crash and set up a command post in a nearby parking lot, where injured people could be seen laying on mats awaiting treatment. ''There are multiple injuries,'' Tyrrell told KABC. ''We are at the moment attending to those injuies on the ground and we're assessing the situation.'' Representatives from Union Pacific did not immediately return calls seeking comment. One Metrolink car appeared to have been sent twisting backwards by the force of the crash, which occurred after 6 a.m. near the intersection of San Fernando Road and Chevy Chase Boulevard. A small fire erupted in the crash, and smoke could be seen wafting from the wreckage. George Touma, 19, of Burbank, said he was called by his mother, who was on one of the Metrolink trains. ''She told me she was bleeding in the head and her arm was really hurting,'' said Touma, who was searching for her. ''I'm really worried because she as vertigo and when I tried to call back she wouldn't answer. ''She said she remembered hearing sequential loud noises and then somebody pulled her out of the train while it was burning. She was in a panicked mode and now she's not picking up.''
The death toll is up to 9 now, and it may've been sabotage: A Metrolink train crashed into an SUV that was apparently parked on the tracks today, derailing and sideswiping another commuter train, authorities said. Nine people were killed and more than 100 others injured. Cars from both Metrolink trains derailed and some landed on their sides, sending passengers tumbling down the aisles, authorities said. Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca said authorities were speaking with the driver of the vehicle and believe it was intentionally parked on the tracks. "It didn't appear that the vehicle had stalled," Baca said. "It appears that it was deliberately placed there." The exact circumstances of the crash, including the driver's motive, were still under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team.
Now they're saying the guy intended to commit suicide but changed his mind, unfortunately neglecting to remove his car from the tracks.
From Yahoo! : Ten Die in LA Train Crash; Murder Charge Planned [ 27. January 2005, 02:40: Message edited by: Stourbridge Lion ]
If the scenario is as described, and if by some accident he is convicted, an appropriate sentence would be to lock him in a room, with the survivors and victims families...... Boxcab E50
Lots of similarities between this and the UK crash last year. Very sad news. http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/get_topic/f/58/t/000368.html? Have they said anything about the traincrews yet? Did the engineer on the cab car manage to get out before the impacts with the other trains?
They are noew criticizing MetroLink's operating procedures for have the locomotive pushing the train from behind. That was the case in this accident. If the locomotive had been leading, the train would have likely stayed on the rails and there would have been no accordian effect.
The death toll is at 11 now. What gets me is that a friend of this SOB was interviewed, and he knew that this guy was going to do this, yet he didn't call the police! So Metrolink's push-pull system is under fire? I know MARC here in Maryland does the same thing. Ka-ching. I'm sure the lawyers will have a field day with this one.
The current operating practice worldwide is to use push-pull operation. Here in the UK we run mainline trains at 125mph in this way, as they do in Switzerland and many other countries. This saves a lot of turn-around time at each end of the run.
If this is true, then I hope they'll find a way to arrest, and charge the "friend" with some sort of complicity. Boxcab E50
I think going after Push-pull is just a scapegoat to blame the RR, they have been doing it in various parts since the mid 60's or so with next to no problems. All this is is some stupid nut and that's the only excuse.
Being from Texas, of course, I'm consevative when it comes to capital punnishment. The real pittiful tihng here is this guy and his friend who knew about it killed these people and some lady underwear wearing lawyer from out there in la la land will get them off instead of them getting the death pennalty for caplital murder as they should. There are far too many people using the insanity plea these days and leaving the people they've killed/injured and their families not receiving their due justice. The guy wants to die, so stick a needle in 'em and get it over with.
One of today's headlines (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7456170) mentions that prosecutors may seek the death penalty for this. Isn't that what this guy really wants anyway (yes, I know he chickened out)? I think a life sentence (say, 60 years per victim) would be more appropriate. However, the former penalty would mean that this freak wouldn't try it again...
Most would probably say that some type of extended jail term is appropriate. The prosecutor has to weigh all this with the evidence he can get in at trial, not against the evidence that is available. I don't know much about the facts here, but there might be some type of sanity hearing or examination. That could have some bearing on the penalty requested, too.
Here, here! I totally agree Harris. I am one of a few conservatives here in NY. He stabbed himself, slashed his wrists and tried sitting on the tracks. That is 3 failed attempts. Let's make his 4th one a grand success and help him along! Russ
Well, they played this interview with his friend on the radio, who said yes, he knew his buddy was going to try this. So yes, it's true- somebody actually knew in advance and did nothing. Which is a sad commentary on what a disconnected society we have become. "Hey, it's not my problem". Geez. And is anyone really surprised that there's some finger pointing being done at the railroad? Somebody got a whiff of the mean green in the air. But like Alan points out, "push-pull" trains are used around the world. Can someone answer this- on this kind of arrangement, are there controls set in the end of the lead passenger car? Sort of like an MU arrangement? I assume that the engineer isn't actually piloting the train from the rear engine? Suicide, they say, is an act of selfishness. This guy went beyond that, and not once did he think about what consequences this would have on innocent commuters.
Sounds like his friend could be held for conspiracy or as an accompliss...be interesting to see how this works out.
