California Train Wreck

[E64PCFD2044 1]

California Commuter Train Crashes

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

GLENDALE, Calif.  â€” A Metrolink (search) commuter train derailed before dawn Wednesday in this Los Angeles suburb, and firefighters could be seen carrying injured people from the cars.

Television reports showed smoke coming from twisted wreckage at the scene of the crash, where two separate trains could be seen derailed. The other train appeared to be operated by Union Pacific (search).

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.

Representatives from Union Pacific and Metrolink 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.

[Guest]

Here's the latest...

The northbound Metrolink train strikes a vehicle on the tracks (Jeep Cherokee) and drags it down the tracks. A southbound train hits the vehicle that is being pushed by the northbound train and derails into a Union Pacific train that is parked. At the same time the northbound train derails and hits the southbound train. This occured on the Glendale / Los Angeles border.

The truck that was on the tracks was there because the driver wanted to commit suicide. He chickened out when the train was closing in and jumped out leaving the vehicle on the tracks.

Over 100 patients in each of the metrolink trains for a total of 200. Preliminary reports have it a 9 DOA at the scene including an LA County Deputy Sheriff.

Many have been transported to local hospital including 40 critical.

Agencies responded: Glendale FD, Burbank FD, Pasadena FD, LAFD and LACoFD along with Glendale PD, LAPD and LASO.

[Guest]

code3rnd, thanks for the complete rundown.

So, the guy parks himself on the track to finish himself off, then chickens out, bails and leaves the car behind !! Causes 9 DOAs, 100 injured and walks away! Un :censored: believable !!!

Since he's probably looking at the death penalty anyway (won't get it, plead insanity...) maybe he should have stayed put...

A tragedy, nonetheless, and best wishes to the friends and family of the deceased and injured.

[E64PCFD2044 1]

up to 10 DOA now, approx. 28 very serious and approx. 88 non life threatening from 1 car

[x635 4,066]

Thanks for the update, code3rnd.

What a crazy and tragic incident, and all because of one nut job.

LA sees some really crazy stuff. However, they seem to deal with these incidents quite well and seem very,very organzied each and every time.

[Guest WolfEMT]

The truck that was on the tracks was there because the driver wanted to commit suicide. He chickened out when the train was closing in and jumped out leaving the vehicle on the tracks.

Over 100 patients in each of the metrolink trains for a total of 200. Preliminary reports have it a 9 DOA at the scene including an LA County Deputy Sheriff.

Now he's guilty of murder as well as numerous charges of reckless endangerment and assault. Good job, fool.

[COMMANDCHIEF 4]

They need to warm up the "Chair" for that S---bag.

[WAS967 97]

You think he was depressed before? Now he's got over 15 dead people (thats the latest nuber I have heard) and hundreds injured. That's gonna increase his med dosage a wee bit.

[Guest]

Some photos from crash site :

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2005/01/2...LIDESHOW_1.html

[E64PCFD2044 1]

GLENDALE, Calif. - Passengers on Metrolink Train 100 heard a terrible rumbling. Then the lights suddenly flickered out, the floor tipped at a dangerous angle, and Tracy West went flying.

"I was flipping over people until I landed a couple of feet ahead and hit a cup-holder, armrest or something," said West, 38, of Los Angeles. "Then when it was over I saw that I was bleeding and had bruises all over."

West spoke as she was treated for a severe leg wound at a triage center set up in a parking lot for survivors of Wednesday's train crash.

At least 11 people were killed and more than 180 injured after the train headed from Moorpark to Los Angeles struck an SUV parked on the track. The train derailed and sideswiped another Metrolink train. The SUV's driver — a man authorities said was suicidal — survived.

Those who emerged from the trains said they had no idea what was happening as cars slid awkwardly and commuters who had been napping tumbled down the aisles.

"I heard a noise. It got louder and louder. And next thing I knew the train tilted, everyone was screaming and I held onto a pole for dear life," said Diane Brady, 56, of Simi Valley. "I held on for what seemed like a week and a half it seemed. It was a complete nightmare, like nothing I've experienced in my 6 1/2 years of taking the Metrolink."

Transportation engineer Paul Konkirati, 28, of Burbank braced himself when the train began sliding, grabbing hold of a bar.

"We hit and then somebody's head landed on my thigh," said Konkirati, his jeans covered in blood as he stood near the scene of the accident. The bleeding woman told him over and over, "I can't move my head."

"I sat there and I tried to comfort her. I didn't know what else to do," Konkirati said. "Then it got really smoky, so smoky that I had to leave. I don't know what happened to her."

Hemlata Thomas, 67, of Chatsworth heard the roar of the crash and the screams of passengers around her. "I thought it was an earthquake because of the sound of gravel underneath the train," Thomas said.

Thomas had only started taking the train to her job at Bank of America downtown six days ago, after friends convinced her that it would be less stressful than driving. She said she is unsure whether she will take the train again.

[DOC22 1]

They need to warm up the "Chair" for that S---bag.

Even the chair would be too quick for this dirtbag! I say he die slower and suffer at least some of the pain he caused to all those innocent people!

[E64PCFD2044 1]

now it's up to 11 DOA and 1 still considered missing