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Glendale train crash |
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Glendale train crashThe Glendale train crash was the deadliest incident in the history of Metrolink, the commuter railroad in the Los Angeles, California, area (note that the trains involved in this crash are not those of the similiarly-named light-rail operator, Metro). At least 11 people died in the January 26, 2005 incident at 6:03 AM PST next to a Costco warehouse store on the Glendale-Los Angeles boundary in an industrial area, north of downtown Los Angeles. Two Metrolink passenger trains and a Union Pacific freight train were involved in the collision, which occurred about half a mile south of downtown Glendale. Both passenger trains were double-deck commuter trains, one northbound from Los Angeles Union Station, the other southbound into the same station. One train overturned, and the other caught fire. The incident is notable for its magnitude, involving two passenger trains, a freight train, and a Jeep Grand Cherokee abandoned on the tracks by Juan Manuel Alvarez. Authorities initially said Alvarez was planning to commit suicide and charged him with 11 counts of murder with "special circumstances." Police say recent investigations indicate Alvarez may have intended to cause the crash without committing suicide. Authorities have filed additional charges against him for murder with intent. BackgroundAlthough Southern California is known for its automobile-dependent population, frequent traffic jams and relatively high oil prices make rail travel an attractive alternative, at least for those working in downtown Los Angeles. In the early morning rush hour period, the northbound train (leaving Los Angeles) normally carries 30–50 passengers; the southbound train (entering Los Angeles) normally has 200–250 people on board. The freight train involved in the accident was "parked up", waiting its turn to deliver track ballast to repair tracks on the former Southern Pacific Railroad's Coast Line (so called because it runs along California's coast from Ventura County through Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo) washed out by major January 2005 rainstorms. The next day, police prevented a similar incident in Irvine, California, where a suicidal man parked his car on Metrolink tracks. He drove away from the tracks when police arrived, however, and they were able to arrest him, preventing another disaster from occurring. Regular Metrolink passenger service was restored through the accident scene on Monday, January 31 2005. InvestigationA National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team is investigating the crash. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen's (BLET) Safety Task Force is assisting the NTSB. The Glendale Police Department is leading the criminal investigation, assisted by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department. Initial reports suggest that the southbound Metrolink train hit the parked Jeep on a grade crossing along Chevy Chase Drive just west of San Fernando Road (map), causing that train to derail. Cars from the derailed train jack-knifed, hitting both the locomotive of the stationary freight train and side-swiping the rear of the moving northbound passenger train. This caused the rear cars of the northbound train to derail, and at least one car rolled over onto its side. A fire, involving one or more passenger cars, was caused by spilt diesel fuel. The root cause of the accident is attributed to the driver of the automobile, Juan Manuel Alvarez of Compton, that had parked on the grade crossing attempting to commit suicide. Having slashed his wrists and stabbed himself repeatedly in the chest, he parked his car on the tracks to finish the attempt. However, the driver changed his mind and attempted to leave the railroad tracks; unable to dislodge his vehicle from the rain-soaked gravel and slick rails, though, he abandoned the vehicle moments before the crowded train approached. (There is some speculation that the driver may have inflicted the wounds on himself after the crash, based on some early reports by witnesses.) Both this causation and the end result have many similarities to that of the Ufton Nervet rail crash in the United Kingdom, which occurred only three months previously, although in that case the driver of the car stayed in the car and was killed. Some early rumors of the incident being a terrorist attack have been dismissed, as no connections to any terrorist organization exist with the suspect. Police on the scene found Alvarez wandering the streets repeating "I'm sorry"; they remanded him into custody after determining that it was his vehicle parked on the tracks. Facing 11 counts of murder, he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on February 15 2005. Prosecutors have stated that they may seek the death penalty. Although initial reports indicated that he had stabbed himself in an effort to finish the suicide, no such wounds were evident at the arraignment hearing. The judge ordered that he remain in custody without bail until a hearing scheduled for March 16 2005 to determine if there is enough evidence to try him on these charges. CasualtiesA total of 11 passengers were killed in the collision. Between 100 and 200 people were injured. In terms of casualties, the crash had the same death toll as the March 15, 1999, Bourbonnais train accident, making it the deadliest U.S. train crash in almost six years. Fatalities in this accident include: In remembrance of the accident, all Metrolink train engineers were asked to sound their trains' horns at 12:01 Pacific Time, February 2 2005. ReferencesSee alsoExternal links
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