"The text message sent by the engineer to Nick Williams, one of a group of teen train enthusiasts." CBS
Posted on 09/13/2008 6:49:23 PM PDT by BenLurkin
CHATSWORTH, Calif. (CBS) ― Metrolink officials Saturday put the blame squarely on the engineer of the train for the deadly crash that has claimed at least 25 lives. They say he ran a red light.
But a group of local teens, train enthusiasts, who know the engineer well doubt that he was to blame.
They called their friend professional and caring and said he helped them learn about trains and being an engineer. To a man, they said he would "never" have been reckless or unprofessional or run a red light.
But one minute before the deadliest crash in Metrolink history, one teen -- Nick Williams -- said he received a text message on his cell phone from the engineer, whom the teens identified as Robert Sanchez.
Williams' received text was brief, "Just two lines", reported KCAL 9 and CBS 2 reporter Kristine Lazar, exclusively.
The text apparently told Williams and his friends where Sanchez would be meeting another passenger train.
The teens posted a tribute to their friend on YouTube.
A Metrolink spokeswoman earlier stated that the train's engineer, who has not officially been named, ran a red signal.
Another one of the teens, Evan Morrison, told Lazar that Sanchez " was not the kind of guy who would run a red light."
None of them believe he was at fault.
Saturday, Sanchez's teen friends all went to the crash site. Mark Speer, choking back tears said, "this is absolutely devastating."
Denise Tyrell, a spokesperson for Metrolink commented on the report that Sanchez might have been texting immediately before the crash.
She said, "I can't believe someone could be texting while driving a train."
"The text message sent by the engineer to Nick Williams, one of a group of teen train enthusiasts." CBS
if true,
that’d be funny,
but it’s tragic
not funny.
Does anyone know the exact time of collision?
Just how old was Sanchez?
true.
He (the engineer) only SENT a short two line text message.
BUT that message was a reply to some message previously: They were having an extended conversation. THESE MESSAGES (both inbound, read, and outbound were what was distracting the engineer as he approached the other train.
Texting while driving?
Did he miss seeing the signal because he was texting?
Reportedly 4:23 pm.
Tragedy aside and it’s cause..... it seems that the dead-man switch would be backed by audible alarms for passing a red light would alert controllers, other trains and the engineer with his head up his butt for what ever reason.
Technology is there I am told..... I would hope !
And I bet the engineer, like all those cell phone junkies (some of them here), liked to say say "I know what I'm doing!" Famous last words.
“Trouble ahead....the Lady in Red.....”
Picture of him here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IZz0FkaiGg&feature=related
Credit LadyCalif for locating this link
I didn’t know a train COULD pass a red without the brakes coming on.
Nobody I know is “the type of person who would run a red light”.
And yet probably everyone I know has done so at one time or another, or more.
That’s what I thought when I read “two lines” Glad I read further.
Just imagine if while texting he missed seeing the red light.
Texting or talking on the phone while driving or operating a train is highly irresponsible.
Numerous studies have shown that talking on a cell phone while driving is incredibly dangerous.
The main reason why is that your brain is trying to form a visual picture of the person you are talking to at the time which distracts it from the task at hand.
How many times have you been driving while talking on the phone and arrived at your destination and could not recall how you got there.
If you don’t die in a crash, then, the brain cancer probably will kill you, it will just take a little longer:
Identified Fatalities (8)
» Alan Buckley, 59, Simi Valley, Fleet Mechanic City of Burbank
» Spree Desha, 35, Simi Valley, LAPD Officer
» Walt Fuller, 54, Simi Valley, Tower Manager/Air Traffic Controller , Burbank Airport
» Ernest Kish, 47, Thousand Oaks
» Paul Long, 54, Moorpark, English Teacher, Oaks Christian School
» Manuel Macias, Jr., 31, Santa Paula, Yoga Instructor
» Donna Remata, 49, Simi Valley, Los Angeles MTA employee
» Maria Villalobos, 18, None
Records last updated Sept. 13, 2008 at 6:50 p.m.
People text message while driving automobiles, which amazes me. I guess up in an engine passengers can not see you, so you think you can get away with more. I wonder what else goes on in the engineer’s seat which noone knows about.
I’m calling BS on the concept that he ‘missed’ a red light while text messaging.
First off, it’s not like the red lights at your everyday intersection.
It’s a series of red lights alongside the track.
SECOND, and most important, it’s not like the engineer turns the steering wheel to go off on a siding, while waiting for the other car to pass.
There are ‘switches’ in the tracks that reroute the train onto the siding. The only way you can get back on the main track is that the switches on that end change. This usually only happens after the other train passes, elsewise it would come head on at your on the siding.
Someone had to monkey with the lights and track switches for this to happen.
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