----------------- Bulletin Message ----------------- From: Robin Date: Sep 13, 2008 7:10 PM Blessings and thank you.....From: JUST PARANORMAL
Date: Sep 13, 2008 2:31 PM

Metrolink takes responsibility; 23 now confirmed dead

Staff and wire reports
Originally published 11:58 a.m.
, September 13, 2008
Updated 01:51 p.m.
, September 13, 2008
Family contact information
Family members of train passengers can call 213-847-2117 or 2118 to get information on loved ones from the Department of Operations, or they can go to Chatsworth High School, 8538 De Soto Ave.
The hotline at the family assistance center is 818-678-3422
Slide Show


*********** Metrolink crash worst since 2005***********




Metrolink took full responsibility for the crash that killed at least 23 people Friday afternoon in Chatsworth.


At a press conference this afternoon, officials increased the death toll. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Saturday that in addition to the 23 some bodies remain in the wreckage of the Metrolink train but it is hard to determine how many.


"There are more bodies in the wreckage, but there is no way to tell how many," said Los Angeles Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa. "The idea that human error caused this accident says to me we need some failsafe measures.
"

Shortly after the press conference Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said that the engineer on the train has been identified as one of the dead. The conductor is among the injured.


"We do not believe Union Pacific is at any way at fault," she said.


Tyrrell said she wasn't sure if the engineer was supposed to stop the train or pull onto a siding in the area, but she confirmed that a Signal 2 was disregarded. The engineer is supposed to get verbal and visual signals at least 2/3 mile out. It takes 1/3 mile to stop the train.


"The signals are dramatic," she said.


The engineer, who was contracted to Metrolink through a company called Veolia Transport, was supposed to pull off to a spare track, but missed the visual signal, according to Tyrrell. She was visibly shaken when delivering the news, and said she believes the engineer died.


Metrolink has been subcontracting with Veola since 1998.


A total of 135 people were injured, with 81 transported to hospitals in serious or critical condition. There was no overall condition update available Saturday, but a telephone survey of five hospitals found nine of 34 patients still critical. Many were described as having crush injuries.


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also spoke at the press conference. "It's one of the worst train accidents in modern history. Even though we've had this tragedy...trains are the safest way to travel.
"

Metrolink service could resume early in the week, potentially Tuesday or Wednesday, after track repairs are completed, he said.


Metrolink officials said they are planning to resume service between Chatsworth and Union Station in Los Angeles on Monday, but not by train.


They are working on a "bus bridge" to transport people.


Buses should be available at Metrolink stations in Moorpark and Simi Valley, but are not expected at any stations further inland, Moorpark City Councilman Keith Millhouse said.


"People north of Moorpark should plan to get to the Moorpark or Simi Valley stations, at least for that day or two," he said, adding that transportation officials are meeting Sunday to shore up the bus plan.


Metrolink announced its determination of the accident's probable cause before investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, leaders of the probe, made any public statements about the crash.


"Even if the train is on the main track, it must go through a series of signals and each one of the signals must be obeyed," Tyrrell told reporters. "What we believe happened, barring any new information from the NTSB, is we believe that our engineer failed to stop ... and that was the cause of the accident.


"We don't know how the error happened," she continued, "but this is what we believe happened. We believe it was our engineer who failed to stop at the signal.


"When two trains are in the same place at the same time somebody's made a terrible mistake," she said.


Metrolink said it conducted its own investigation by looking at the dispatch and signal system and wanted to release its findings to the public as soon as possible.


The collision occurred on a horseshoe-shaped section of track in Chatsworth at the west end of the San Fernando Valley.


The crash forced the Metrolink engine well back into the first passenger car, and both toppled over. Two other passenger cars remained upright.


Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villarigosa has been seen at the crash site carrying two folded flags because he believes two city employees died in the crash.


It was the deadliest U.S. passenger train accident in 15 years; a 2005 Metrolink crash killed 11.


During the night, the teams used hydraulic jacks to keep the passenger car from falling over and other specialized rescue equipment to gently tear apart the metal.


Fire Capt. Steve Ruda said the goal was to eliminate every piece of metal and gradually work down into the passenger spaces, but by midnight crews were just getting through the top deck of the double-decker train.


"There's human beings in there and it's going to be painstaking to get them out," Ruda said. "They'll have to surgically remove them.
"

His firefighters had never seen such carnage, he said. The crews would have to work carefully to document the incident for investigators and so relatives could identify bodies, Ruda said.

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