STORM2K

LOS ANGELES - A commuter train carrying 222 people collided head-on with a freight train during the Friday afternoon rush, killing at least 10 people, injuring dozens and trapping an unknown number of others in a passenger car crushed by its own engine.

Firefighters extinguished a blaze under part of the wreckage and were working hours after the 4:32 p.m. collision to free people from the destroyed commuter car, which was left toppled on its side with the train's engine shoved back inside it. Two other cars in the Metrolink train remained upright.

The Union Pacific freight train's engine was also turned onto its side, with the rest of the train splayed out like an accordion behind it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26680908/

18 people dead, 45 in critical condition.

Up to 23.

LOS ANGELES - The engineer of a Metrolink commuter train failed to stop at a red light before a deadly head-on collision with a freight train, a spokeswoman for the rail transit agency said Saturday.

A preliminary investigation found "it was a Metrolink engineer that failed to stop at a red signal and that was the probable cause of the accident," Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said.Tyrrell said the engineer worked for a subcontractor, Veolia, used by Metrolink since 1998. He had driven Metrolink trains since 1996. She said she believes the engineer, whose name was not released, died.

At least 23 deaths were confirmed Saturday, but the death toll could rise as crews continued to go through the lower level of a mangled two-story Metrolink passenger car, authorities said. The toll made it the deadliest U.S. passenger rail accident in 15 years.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Saturday that at least 135 people were injured, with 81 people in hospitals.

The Metrolink train, heading from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Ventura County, was carrying 220 passengers, one engineer and one conductor when it collided with the Union Pacific freight, with a crew of three, about 4:30 p.m. Friday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26680908/

Death toll now 25.

This is the worst train disaster in the U.S. since the Big Bayou Canot, AL accident in September 1993. In that accident, a barge struck and damaged a bridge, causing an Amtrak train to plunge into the water. 47 died in that accident.

How the heck does this happen? Somebody screwed up big time.

Category 5 wrote:How the heck does this happen? Somebody screwed up big time.

Yes an engineer on the commuter train ignored a red light signal.

vbhoutex wrote:

Category 5 wrote:How the heck does this happen? Somebody screwed up big time.

Yes an engineer on the commuter train ignored a red light signal.

Unbelievable, if he survived he should be charged with murder IMO.

Category 5 wrote:

vbhoutex wrote:

Category 5 wrote:How the heck does this happen? Somebody screwed up big time.

Yes an engineer on the commuter train ignored a red light signal.

Unbelievable, if he survived he should be charged with murder IMO.

I agree, but he's one of the dead.

Can the train company be held liable if the engineer (who appears to have died) is found resposnible for contributing to this horrific act?

I heard the engineer may have been texting someone at the time of the accident, they are checking his cell phone record, and that of 2 teenagers...

Jinkers wrote:I heard the engineer may have been texting someone at the time of the accident, they are checking his cell phone record, and that of 2 teenagers...

If that's the case, there's going to be a massive lawsuit.