Death penalty sought against man accused in Glendale (commuter train) crash

kcal9 ^ | Friday August 26, 2005

[dennisw]

LOS ANGELES (AP) Prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty against the man accused of causing a collision of two commuter trains that killed 11 people and injured nearly 200.

Juan Manuel Alvarez, 26, allegedly parked his Jeep on tracks in suburban Glendale on Jan. 26, then abandoned the vehicle as a Metrolink train approached. The train crashed into the Jeep and derailed, slamming into an oncoming train.

Glendale police have said that while it initially appeared Alvarez was trying to commit suicide, the discovery of other evidence, including gasoline doused on the sport utility vehicle, showed he was trying to cause the crash.

Alvarez has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of murder and one count of arson.

Eleven members of the Los Angeles County district attorney's capital case committee agreed this week to use a rarely used ``train wrecking'' statute as one of the special circumstance allegations against Alvarez, spokeswoman Jane Robison said Friday.

She declined to discuss what led the committee to seek the death penalty.

``We don't comment on any proceedings at the committee meetings,'' she said.

Alvarez's defense attorney, Eric Chase, did not immediately return a telephone message requesting comments.

[359Henrie]

Works for me.

[metmom]

Just when you think you've heard it all..

[DB]

Me too.

[holyscroller]

Illegal? Just causing the train wrecks that Americans don't want to cause?

[milford421]

"Glendale police have said that while it initially appeared Alvarez was trying to commit suicide, the discovery of other evidence, including gasoline doused on the sport utility vehicle, showed he was trying to cause the crash"

Never heard that one before.

[maestro]

?... Death penalty sought against man accused in Glendale (commuter train) crash.....?

?.....................In 'ACLU' California?

[Daaave]

"Police said that although Alvarez "may have contemplated suicide, his actions were deliberate with the intent on causing horrific tragedy."

"Investigators said they believe Alvarez thought his actions would impress his estranged wife. They said he cut himself after the crash out of frustration."

""A lot of the evidence will relate to the fact that he was in a bad relationship with his former wife, and he was trying to win her back in some bizarre way that we can't explain," said Lt Jon Perkins."

wftv.com/