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.

[null and void]

I wonder if there are shared tracks there with the freight lines or what the heck happened???

If this is where I think it is, I used to live just up the hill on Division St.

This is a major switch yard, scores of parallel tracks and hundreds of switches. They handle an amazing amount of traffic. A single bad sensor on a mis-set switch could be the root cause.

[califamily4W]

LAFD reported up to 30 critical.

[TomGuy]

Don't you just love FoxNews graphics that cover up the bottom of the screen. Are the editors at Fox really this stupid? During the Tsunami they showed footage of the wave rolling in but the wave was at the bottom of the screen and you could not see it.

I (and others) have sent them 100s of emails about that stupid banner when they show video. I usually change to CNN or MSNBC or CSPAN for screencaps, for that very reason.

[CedarDave]

Police Chief Baca just said (on KTLA) that a jeep cherokee was t-boned by a train (sounded like it was the freight train) and then it caused derailments that resulted in the two metrolinks also being involved.

Confirmed by UPRR official on another site -- one train hit a vehicle at a grade crossing, derailed and careened into the others. Since all grade crossings are protected by lights, gates and signals, it's likely some idiot went around them and got caught on the tracks.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Bump.....thanks.

[null and void]

Those pictures remind me of the Kerry campaign.

*snrk*

[WestCoastGal]

Is it at all possible to manually switch these on purpose?

/tinfoil hat

[mfccinsd]

Different pieces of things they've stated in the last few minutes on KTLA:

Fire battlion chief was shown holding up plates from a vehicle as he was in the wreckage. Now being confirmed that the plates are registered to a red jeep cherokee (the same color noted by Baca).

Same chief now answering questions: They can't find entire parts of a car, but are finding some pieces of wreckage, so saying basically they are unsure if there really was a car involved, but some remnants seem to indicate so. In his hand were the plates and Cdl (camera tried to pan in and he quickly turned it so neither could be seen).

They were showing police leading away a train conductor about 15 minutes ago.

The Union Pacific statement issued contradicts with the info Baca had been understanding (although that was what he stated just as he was arriving on scene) and also with most of the rest of the reports. For whatever that is worth.

Obviously they don't really have a lot of answers at this point...just some of what has been reported.

[trussell]

Prayer ping.

My prayers go up for these victims. May the deceased Rest in Peace. May the injured have restored health. Lord, please provide healing for the injured in this accident. Provide the families and friends of the injured and deceased with comfort and peace. Surround them with your love. In Jesus' precious name. Amen

Blessings,
trussell

If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.

[null and void]

Hey, there are some things our undocumented drivers just haven't learned yet.

They're only causing the accidents Americans won't do...

[null and void]

Is it at all possible to manually switch these on purpose?

/tinfoil hat

Probably. I never tried.

;^)

[Alamo-Girl]

I join in prayer for all of these!

[TXBSAFH]

Prayers sent.

[amom]

68 is an interesting post. Relating to a license plate found in wreckage.

[amom]

Joining with you.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I think once Shep or someone commented on that. It depends on the producer at the time. Recently I have noticed they are getting better at removing it.

[robomurph]

The Metrolink are rather new/nice double deck rail cars. I used to take them from Anaheim or Fullerton into downtown LA to avoid sitting in traffic. At Union Station you could catch the subway to downtown or Hollywood.

[WestCoastGal]

Yes I was wondering about that.

Even with a direct hit you would think they would find a car not just the plates and cdl???

[bd476]

Someone has also already pinged BurbankKarl.

[null and void]

Depends. The car could be rolled up into a little unrecognizable ball under the train.