Posted on 01/26/2005 6:42:20 AM PST by Pikamax
Commuter train derails in Glendale
Associated Press
GLENDALE, Calif. - A Metrolink commuter train derailed early Wednesday in this Los Angeles suburb, and firefighters were searching through the wreckage.
Television reports showed smoke coming from twisted wreckage at the scene of the crash, where two separate trains could be seen derailed.
The derailment in this Los Angeles suburb was near San Fernando Road and Chevy Chase Boulevard.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Press conference starting now...
Ten fatalites so far. No terrorism link. Homicide investigation underway. Deranged, suicidal individual caused it.
That's exactly where my daughter lived, right on the border between Los Felix and Glendale.
Suspect in custody, will be charged with homicide.
"Suspect is in custody, and he SHOULD be charged with homocide"
Whoever that was said "homicide charges pending" -- probably misspoke.
Oh did he say should, good
you type fast...he just said that 10 seconds ago.
They say they SHOULD be able to release his name "shortly"
It is an alibi or a cover story perhaps (e.g. "If you get caught, say you were commiting suicide then changed your mind" ). /24
Hope Federal Government will provide money so that railroad crossing won't be this dangerous and we won't have this kind of tragedy..."
Dunno. My one track mind derailed.
Offffff course he said that. Sheesh!!
Here's a summary of the facts as of then:
At least 9 dead, including a LASD deputy in uniform on the way to work, and two Union Pacific on their train.
At least 100 wounded, about 40 critically.
Union Pacific freight train parked on siding.
One Metrolink train heading north out of L.A.'s Union Pacific station.
One Metrolink train heading south into the Burbank/L.A. area.
The northbound train hits what is believed to be a Jeep Cherokee parked on the tracks. As it attempts to stop, it screeches several hundred feet down the tracks, dragging the car under it's front end.
The car causes the train to jump the tracks and it hits the engine of the Union Pacific train. The UP engine is knocked over on its side and partially into a COSTCO parking lot.
As one car of the Metrolink train is jackknifing, as bad luck would have it, the southbound train is passing. The last car in that train sideswipes the jackknifing car, which rips open the southbound car and throws it totally off the tracks. It lands up against fencing that lines the tracks at that point. It is on the opposite side and perhaps 50 to 100 feet from where the UP engine was hit.
One of the senior fire chiefs on the scene recovered a pretty intact license plate and a driver's license from the area where the northbout Metrolink car hit the UP engine.
Because the intersection where the car was left on the tracks is in the City of Glendale, the Glendale PD is taking the investigative lead, assisted by federal authorities and LAPD and LASD.
Glendale police have taken the person "associated with" the Jeep into custody.
L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca said it appears the car was left deliberately on the tracks. However, he also said "there is no evidence" that this is a terrorist act.
L.A. City Councilman Eric Garcetti said it does appear to have been a deliberate act.
Baca said he will seek the maximum charges against the individual, up to and including murder. Homicide detectives and county cornor personnel are on the scene, which is being treated as a crime scene.
Glendale mayor wants more federal government money to eliminate grade crossings. (Note to mayor -- nothing anyone can do can stop a determined deranged individual from doing something to cause a disaster.)
Yes. If only the federal government will spend enough money, we can completely eliminate risk from our lives.
That's what keeps floating up to the top of my mind too. Terrorists can be considered deranged. ALL homocidal maniacs are deranged, after all. I want some more details on this guy.
Perhaps not terrorism in the sense of radical Islamism, but a form of terrorism nevertheless. If this person deliberately left his vehicle on those tracks, no matter what his motive, he should be charged with applicable terrorism crimes.
The cities are responsible for grade crossings....and they dont want to pay for it. Those tracks were laid in 1876.
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