Commuter train derails in Glendale (Update: Crash escalates to criminal probe)

AP ^ | 01/26/05 | AP

[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.

[Rutles4Ever]

If this guy was illegal, there's going to be a backlash live we've never seen...

[Wolfstar]

The Union Pacific engine in which at least two people died. It was hit head-on by the Metrolink train dragging the remains of the car left on the tracks. Imagine the force necessary to knock a massive freight train engine onto its side and partially into a nearby parking lot.

As I was watching early this morning, one injured man was taken from the upper part of this car. He was moving his arms as the firefighters were carefully removing the stretcher down to the ground. However, shortly thereafter, they covered the man with a white sheet.

[CedarDave]

Thanks for the name. No longer any KNBC live feed coming up for me -- time to go anyway.

[GOP_1900AD]

In his classic "Spetsnaz" Suvorov writes about the old GRU practice of seeking out individuals who might go to extremes, who might be "useful" in carrying out Grey Terror operations (e.g. sabotage meant to appear as random "accidents" and "criminal acts"). I would imaging Al Qaida have read that book.

[jbarkley]

That's just what I was thinking.

[GOP_1900AD]

"imaging" s/b "imagine" ...

[bd476]

Take care, drive safely and keep the faith. Thanks for all of your good updates on this awful situation.

[lainie]

Catch ya later, Dave.. have a good rest of the day.

[countess]

If this guy was illegal, there's going to be a backlash live we've never seen...

Sadly, I doubt it. There is nothing an illegal can do in this country to get more than the "fringes" wound up.

[lainie]

Which are you listening to? KNX is very behind the news.

[Wolfstar]

The train sheared a signal tower off.

Some of the walking wounded in the triage area. The call came into police and fire services at around 6:11am local time. The first emergency units were on the scene within minutes, and a full triage center was set up by about 6:40am local.

[GOP_1900AD]

RE: 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.

By my reckoning, since the train was on the return to central LA, it would have been in pusher mode, making it all the more susceptible to this.

[califamily4W]

Did I hear correctly... the Jeep may have been put on the tracks last night??

[bd476]

Glendale Mayor's comment surprised me. He hopes the Federal Government will send money. Oh terrific.

[Strategerist]

Suspect tried to slash wrists, tried to stab himself in chest and then tried to put car on tracks

Not a particuarly effective Al Queda technique to try to kill yourself before the car is on the tracks, methinks.

[Wolfstar]

An arial view. The yellow UP engine is to the left of the photo. The northbound Metrolink train that hit the car is jackknifed next to the UP engine. The car to the far right is from the southbound Metrolink train.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Mass muurder isn't exactly an efficient form of suicide, either.

Pretty convenient that his previous attempts all left marks that he could show to police. I guess Juan never heard of pills.

[gubamyster]

It will be interesting to see if we ever find out if he is an illegal.

[Die_Hard Conservative Lady]

Per the TV annoucer, it was caused by a suicide attempt, but he jump out of the car at the last minute..

[bd476]

I did not hear that, yet. I heard that sometime prior to driving the car onto the tracks, actually they used the term "placed the car on the tracks" the man had tried to kill himself by slashing his wrists and then by stabbing himself in the chest.

After those suicide attempts, THEN he placed his car on the tracks and waited. Then before train struck he got out and away from Jeep and watched the tragedy unfold. Sick.