Los Angeles Metrolink Train Accident in Chatsworth on Friday September 12, 2008. Updated 9/15/08
Officials are still trying to figure out what went wrong and what caused this massive wreck. The engineer did miss the red signal but it is still not clear how that could have happened. He May have been using his cell phone and text messaging at the time.
Shocking news came out of Southern California over the weekend when it was reported that a Los Angeles Train Accident near Chatsworth resulted in 25 deaths on Friday afternoon.
Rescue crews worked feverishly through the night on Friday, but were unable to save everyone involved given the extreme severity of the head-on train collision.
Metrolink is a vessel designed for commuters to avoid the typical rush hour traffic millions of people encounter when depending on their vehicles on the local freeways.
In all, the Metrolink train was carrying an estimated 222 people, as the crash occurred at around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, which is one of the busiest times of the week for this service.
Federal officials investigating the train collision and said they want to review cell phone records to determine if an engineer blamed for running a stop signal before the crash may have been text messaging at the time.
The accident was ahead-on crash of a commuter train and a freight train that officials on Saturday attributed to the failure of the passenger train engineer to stop at a red light.
The crash, was the worst U.S. rail tragedy since 1999.
The collision injured a total of about 135 people. Officials said 24 people died at the scene and a 25th died this the next day at a hospital.
In a community overwhelmed by Friday’s train wreck, the nation’s deadliest rail disaster in 15 years, survivors and those mourning the dead comforted one another Sunday night at a Simi Valley church. Several draped an arm on a neighbor’s shoulder; some wept quietly.
Pastor Tony Amatangelo asked the 800 people at Grace Brethren Church to stand when they heard the names of lost family and friends. At the end of the recitation, the majority of the congregation was on its feet, many holding each other as they prayed.
Firefighter worked to rescue victims after the Metrolink Chatsworth commuter train Accident en route from Los Angeles’ Union Station to Oxnard.
Over 300 firefighters are working to douse flames and rescue victims, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Federal investigators are looking into texting before deadly train crash.
Other theories are beginning to form, but the bottom line is that it will take some time to determine with any degree of finality who would be at fault and how this sort of catastrophe can be avoided in the future.
Local, state and federal authorities continue to examine different causes and circumstances that surround the situation.
Important numbers and information
Metrolink hotline for Family members of passengers involved in the Chatsworth Train Accident
Our Los Angeles Train Accident Lawyers are offering free consultations.
Are the los Angeles Metro Trains Currently Running? - Find out at the Official Site HERE
STATEMENT FROM RON ROBERTS
CHAIRMAN, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY
Metrolink staff has recently made comments regarding the possible cause of the September 12, 2008 tragedy in Chatsworth. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has characterized these comments as premature and has ordered Metrolink to withhold further comments at this time, pending investigation, and we agree.
The Board of Directors, executive management and staff of Metrolink extend their prayers and condolences to the families and loved ones of the 25 passengers and train crew members who perished in the September 12th train collision in Chatsworth. Many of us ride our own trains every day and we feel that everyone who uses Metrolink is a member of a unique family, the Metrolink family. And like with any other family, when a member is lost, even just one, the pain is indescribable.
Metrolink also extends its prayers for the speedy recovery of the over 130 of our passengers and crew members who were injured yesterday. Our number one priority is the safety of our passengers and when we complete our work with the emergency response agencies on site, we will be working closely with the National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies to determine the cause of the collision and to ensure that everything possible is done to prevent a tragedy of this type from occurring again.
List of victims from the Los Angeles Metrolink Chatsworth Train Accident
Families of one male victim and one female victim have not been notified and the coroner’s office has not released their names.
• Christopher Aiken, 38, of Thousand Oaks
• Dennis Arnold, 75, of Camarillo
• Dean Lafoy Brower, 51, of Ventura
• Alan Lloyd Buckley, 59, of Simi Valley, a city of Burbank mechanic.
• Yi Chao, 71, of Simi Valley
• Spree Desha, 35, of Simi Valley, Los Angeles Police Department officer
• Walter Arney Fuller, 58, of Simi Valley
• Ronald Grace, 55, of Simi Valley
• Michael Hammersly, 45, of Simi Valley
• Jacob Hefter, 18, of Palmdale, student at Cal State, Long Beach
• Kari Hsieh, no age given
• Ernest Stephen Kish II, 47, of Thousand Oaks
• Gregory Lintner, 48, of Simi Valley
• Paul Long, 54, of Moorpark, a teacher
• Manuel Macias, 31, of Santa Paula, a yoga instructor
• Aida Magdaleno, 19, of Camarillo
• Charles Peck, 58, of Salt Lake City
• Howard Barry Pompel, 69, of Moorpark
• Donna Remata, 49, of Simi Valley, a Metropolitan Transit Authority
• Doyle Jay Souser, 56, of Camarillo, GM at a construction materials company
• Roger Spacey, 60, of Simi Valley
• Maria Elena Villalobos, 18, of Moorpark, student at Fashion Institute of Design
• Atul Vyas, 20, of Simi Valley, a student at Claremont McKenna College
Source: Los Angeles County coroner’s office
CURRENT STATUS OF THE VENTURA COUNTY LINE FREIGHT TRAIN/METROLINK COLLISIONFind the current status here
Last update 9/15/08 8:46 am
AS OF 8:30 A.M. ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2008, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT METROLINK TRAIN SERVICE ON THE VENTURA COUNTY LINE THROUGH CHATSWORTH WILL RESUME BY 3:00 PM ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2008.
DUE TO THE ONGOING NTSB INVESTIGATION NORTHBOUND TRAINS 105, 107 AND 109 WILL OPERATE BETWEEN UNION STATION AND VAN NUYS STATION. BUSES WILL BE PROVIDED AT VAN NUYS STATION FOR PASSENGERS TO COMPLETE THEIR TRIP. UNTIL THE NTSB COMPLETES THEIR INVESTIGATION A COMBINATION OF RAIL AND BUS SERVICE WILL BE USED FOR PASSENGERS TO COMPLETE THEIR TRIP. MORE INFORMATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT 12:30 PM.
9/14/08
On Monday September 15, Metrolink train service on the Ventura County Line will operate ONLY between Chatsworth and Los Angeles Union Station until 3:00 p.m. Bus service will replace train service to and from Moorpark and Simi Valley stations. Buses will be available to transport passengers between Moorpark and Simi Valley stations and Chatsworth station.
NO TRAINS OR BUSES WILL OPERATE TO OR FROM CAMARILLO, OXNARD OR MONTALVO STATIONS UNTIL 3:00 P.M. SEPTEMBER 15, 2008
Buses will be provided by the operators listed below. Metrolink Passenger Services representatives will be available at all stations on the Ventura County Line to provide assistance.
BUS OPERATORS
· Coach America (provided by the Ventura County Transportation Commission)
· Executive Coach
· METRO
· Transit Systems
· Rodeway International
Buses will depart Moorpark and Simi Valley stations for trains 100, 102, 104, 106, 110, 114 and 116 on regular train times for Chatsworth station.
Buses will also depart Chatsworth station to take passengers from trains 101, 153, 105 and 109 to Moorpark and Simi Valley stations.
The special Ventura County Line schedule below is only in effect on Monday September 15, 2008.
Beginning with Ventura County Line train 111, replacement bus service will cease and all trains will operate to their regular stations.
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September 19th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
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