Another infamous day in LA history
Folks, you can add January 26, 2005 as another date that will live in Southern California infamy.
The deadliest train accident in Southern California history took place today in Atwater Village, which is near the Los Angeles/Glendale border. And this tragedy was preventable.
What you are about to read is very disturbing.
The 6:10 AM accident took place near the vicinity of San Fernando Mission and Chevy Chase, adjacent to the Costco center. An SUV, driven by a Latin male named Juan Alvaraz, in a suicide attempt, drove up to the center track and at the last second, changed his mind and bailed out of the SUV and fled as a Metrolink Train hit the car, causing the front end of the train to derail, and hit the rear side of a Metrolink train going the opposite direction and hitting a parked Union Pacific locomotive as well.
As of this writing, ten deaths have been recorded, including a Sheriff's deputy riding the train to work. And Alvaraz has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of second-degree murder and faces numerous other charges.
I am very disturbed with this story, because at one time I used Metrolink as a means of transportation in the past. And I am even more outraged at the selfishness of an idiot who wants to kill not only himself but cause bodily harm on hundreds of others by doing what he did. Apparently, Alvaraz was going through a separation, and has attempted suicide through other means in the past.
Regardless of how bad things are, and trust me, I've attempted it once before... suicide is not the answer. There is a suicide hotline that you can call, and it is toll free too. Don't know the number off-hand though, but if you know someone or you are someone who thinks that there is no hope or no point in living anymore, please get professional help.
Hats off to the people at Costco for helping out victims of this deadly train disaster with food, water, and other items needed -- it goes to show you that when you give a little, you will receive a little in return.
For those of you who are wondering: Metrolink service between Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Burbank is out of service until further notice. This will also affect Amtrak train service between Santa Barbara and/or San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles, as well as the service between Seattle and Los Angeles (The Coast Starlight). Bus service is available however between Union Station and Burbank, as well as bus service between the Metro Red Line station in North Hollywood and Downtown Burbank. But expect lengthy delays for at least the next several days commuting between Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
I urge all of you to call 1-800-COMMUTE to check the latest conditions.
The deadliest train accident in Southern California history took place today in Atwater Village, which is near the Los Angeles/Glendale border. And this tragedy was preventable.
What you are about to read is very disturbing.
The 6:10 AM accident took place near the vicinity of San Fernando Mission and Chevy Chase, adjacent to the Costco center. An SUV, driven by a Latin male named Juan Alvaraz, in a suicide attempt, drove up to the center track and at the last second, changed his mind and bailed out of the SUV and fled as a Metrolink Train hit the car, causing the front end of the train to derail, and hit the rear side of a Metrolink train going the opposite direction and hitting a parked Union Pacific locomotive as well.
As of this writing, ten deaths have been recorded, including a Sheriff's deputy riding the train to work. And Alvaraz has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of second-degree murder and faces numerous other charges.
I am very disturbed with this story, because at one time I used Metrolink as a means of transportation in the past. And I am even more outraged at the selfishness of an idiot who wants to kill not only himself but cause bodily harm on hundreds of others by doing what he did. Apparently, Alvaraz was going through a separation, and has attempted suicide through other means in the past.
Regardless of how bad things are, and trust me, I've attempted it once before... suicide is not the answer. There is a suicide hotline that you can call, and it is toll free too. Don't know the number off-hand though, but if you know someone or you are someone who thinks that there is no hope or no point in living anymore, please get professional help.
Hats off to the people at Costco for helping out victims of this deadly train disaster with food, water, and other items needed -- it goes to show you that when you give a little, you will receive a little in return.
For those of you who are wondering: Metrolink service between Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Burbank is out of service until further notice. This will also affect Amtrak train service between Santa Barbara and/or San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles, as well as the service between Seattle and Los Angeles (The Coast Starlight). Bus service is available however between Union Station and Burbank, as well as bus service between the Metro Red Line station in North Hollywood and Downtown Burbank. But expect lengthy delays for at least the next several days commuting between Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
I urge all of you to call 1-800-COMMUTE to check the latest conditions.
posted by Robert @ 4:30 PM
1 Comments:
At January 29, 2005 at 8:06 PM ,
Robert said...
Just a footnote, folks... the guy who is responsible for this deadly train crash has been charged with 11 counts of first-degree murder (not second-degree murder as originally stated) and is eligible for the death penalty if convicted. However, his attorneys feel he should have a medical evaluation, since he did attempt suicide on two prior occasions. Still, this tragedy should have not occurred.
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