2005 Glendale train crash

Train crash in California, US December 2025 November 2023 2005 Glendale train crash NTSB Glendale Crash 1.png Overhead image of the 2005 Glendale train crash, showing the aftermath after cab car 625, which led Metrolink #100, impacted with the parked Union Pacific locomotive yes 12 34 07 48 N 118 15 48 W title,inline type:event 2005 01 26 6:03 a.m. PST Glendale / Los Angeles, California United States SCRRA Valley Subdivision17 Metrolink, Union Pacific Railroad Derailment Vehicle intentionally parked on the tracks 3 1 11 177 Diagram The 2005 Glendale train crash occurred on January 26, 2005, at 6:03 a.m. PST, when a Metrolink commuter train collided with a sport utility vehicleJanuary 25, 2015 In the 10 years since the Glendale train crash, Metrolink has made safety a focus en-US Daily News https://www.dailynews.com/2015/01/25/in-the-10-years-since-the-glendale-train-crash-metrolink-has-made-safety-a-focus/ May 12, 2018 that had been parked on the tracks by a man in an industrial area of Glendale, California, just east of the Los Angeles city limits, causing the deaths of 11 people and injuring 177 more. The driver of the car, who was allegedly trying to commit suicide and had changed his mind shortly before the impact but was unable to move his car from the wet tracks, survived the incident and was charged with eleven counts of murder and one count of arson. Background In the early morning rush hour period, southbound Ventura County Line train #100 (approaching Los Angeles) normally carried between 200 and 250 passengers; the northbound Antelope Valley Line train #901 (leaving Los Angeles) normally carried between thirty and fifty passengers. The freight train involved in the crash was "tied down" (parked and unattended) on an auxiliary track known as "The Slide", running parallel along the west side of the main tracks, led by Union Pacific model EMD SD70M locomotive number 4323, and CEFX model SD40-2 number 3173, waiting to deliver track ballast to repair tracks on the former Southern Pacific Railroad's Coast Line which had previously been washed out in January 2005 by major rainstorms. Crash thumb|Overhead image of the 2005 Glendale train crash, Metrolink train #100 is on the left and Metrolink #901 is on the right. On January 26, 2005, at 6:03 a.m. PST, Metrolink's southbound Ventura County Line train #100 collided with a sport utility vehicle that had been abandoned on the tracks immediately south of the Chevy Chase Drive grade crossing and near a Costco retail store on the Glendale–Los Angeles boundary (the western edge of the railroad right of way is the dividing line), in an industrial area north of downtown Los Angeles. The train jackknifed and struck trains on either side of it—one a stationary Union Pacific freight train, and the other a northbound Metrolink Antelope Valley Line train (#901) traveling in the opposite direction.January 27, 2005 11 Killed in Calif. Commuter Train Crash en-US Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/story/11-killed-in-calif-commuter-train-crash May 12, 2018 The chain-reaction collisions resulted in the deaths of eleven people. Among the first responders to the crash were employees of the Costco store adjacent to the accident site, who placed calls to 9-1-1 and climbed the perimeter fence to aid the victims, pulling out survivors and using fire extinguishers until firefighters arrived.January 27, 2006 Ceremony observes anniversary of crash en-US Daily News https://www.dailynews.com/2006/01/27/ceremony-observes-anniversary-of-crash/ May 12, 2018 About 300 firefighters, helicopters and cadaver dogs were brought to the crash site in order to help locate individuals trapped.2005 Rail crash carnage in Los Angeles en-GB https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4209619.stm May 12, 2018 Juan Manuel Álvarez, who had left his Jeep Cherokee Sport vehicle parked on the tracks, was arrested and charged with eleven counts of murder with "special circumstances". Authorities and Álvarez's legal defense claimed he was planning to commit suicide, but changed his mind at the last minute. Álvarez was convicted in June 2008 of the eleven counts plus one count of arson, and though prosecutors sought a death sentence, was instead sentenced in August 2008 to eleven consecutive life sentences in prison with no possibility of parole.Hanna Jason Deadliest U.S. train crashes since 2000 CNN https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/13/us/train-wreck-history/index.html May 12, 2018 Investigation section November 2025 thumb|Overhead image of the 2005 Glendale train crash, Metrolink train #100 is on the closer to the camera and Metrolink #901 is in the distance. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team investigated the crash, assisted by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen's (BLET) Safety Task Force. The Glendale Police Department led the criminal investigation, assisted by the Union Pacific Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the criminal case was tried in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The southbound Metrolink train (#100) struck the parked Jeep that had been driven by Álvarez onto the tracks at the Chevy Chase Drive grade crossing just west of San Fernando Road, pushing the Jeep southward along the track towards the Los Feliz Boulevard undercrossing until automotive parts struck a track switch and became lodged under the leading car of the Metrolink train, raising it up and causing the train to derail. Cars from the derailed train jackknifed, hitting the locomotive of the stationary Union Pacific freight train and also sideswiping the rear of the passing northbound #901 Metrolink passenger train. This caused the rear cars of the northbound train to derail, and at least one car rolled over onto its side. A fire, involving one or more passenger cars, was caused by spilled diesel fuel. The root cause of the crash was attributed to the driver of the automobile, Juan Manuel Álvarez of Compton, who deliberately drove onto, and left his vehicle on, the tracks while allegedly attempting to commit suicide. Having slashed his wrists and stabbed himself repeatedly in the chest, he parked his car on the tracks to finish the attempt. However, Álvarez changed his mind and attempted to leave the tracks. Because he was unable to dislodge his vehicle from the rain-soaked gravel and slick rails, he abandoned the vehicle moments before the crowded southbound train approached. Both this causation and the end result have many similarities to that of the Ufton Nervet rail crash in the United Kingdom, which occurred three months previously and involved a suicidal driver parking their car on a level crossing to be struck by an inbound train, although in that case the driver of the car stayed in the vehicle and was killed along with six others. Early rumors of the incident being a terrorist attack were dismissed, as no connections to any terrorist organization existed with the suspect. Reaction The wreck caused intense attention to the train configuration. Many commuter trains are pushed from the back by the locomotive in a push-pull configuration, including Metrolink trains returning to Union Station. In this configuration, the first car is a cab car. The push-pull configuration eliminates the need for elaborate turnaround maneuvers and facilities to reverse a train's direction. There was criticismJoplin Loren Crash sparks push-pull controversy https://www.metro-magazine.com/management-operations/article/210762/crash-sparks-push-pull-controversy January 13, 2020 that the configuration made the accident worse: claimsIn the 10 years since the Glendale train crash, Metrolink has made safety a focus https://www.dailynews.com/2015/01/25/in-the-10-years-since-the-glendale-train-crash-metrolink-has-made-safety-a-focus/ January 13, 2020 that if the heavier engine were ahead of the passenger cars, then casualties would have been reduced and might have prevented derailment.June 27, 2006 Glendale crash survivors push train rule https://www.dailynews.com/2006/06/27/glendale-crash-survivors-push-train-rule/ January 13, 2020 Aftermath Regular Metrolink passenger service was restored through the crash site the following Monday, January 31. Immediately afterward, Metrolink temporarily roped off the first cars in all of their trains; passengers were seated starting in the second car. Metrolink gradually modified this policy. In 2007, the line permitted passengers to sit in a portion of the first car when in "rear-pushed mode". Seating is still not permitted in the roped-off, forward-most section of the first cars (just behind the engineer's cab) until the introduction of new rear cab cars.S Max September 5, 2021 Seriously Selfish: The 2005 Glendale (USA) Train Crash https://mx-schroeder.medium.com/seriously-selfish-the-2005-glendale-usa-train-crash-7835f71852d2 January 14, 2022 Medium en The day following the incident, police intervened in a similar "copycat" incident in Irvine, California, where a suicidal man parked his car on Metrolink tracks. The man drove away from the tracks when police arrived and was later arrested.January 27, 2005 Trains-Irvine City News Service https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:4FBV-VN00-00BT-83KR-00000-00&context=1516831 May 22, 2019Covarrubias Amanda January 28, 2005 Long Road to Cleanup, Recovery Begins The Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-28-me-crash28-story.html May 22, 2019Chavez Paul January 28, 2005 The Spokesman Review The Spokesman-Review, Associated Press http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jan/28/man-charged-with-murder-in-train-crash/?print-friendly May 22, 2019 Survivor John Phipps was made famous due to a Los Angeles Daily News photograph of his farewell to his family and high school sweetheart, which was written in his blood on the interior of a passenger car. The Chevy Chase Drive Crossing was undamaged, and remained fully unchanged after the crash. The crossing was upgraded in 2013 with quad gate barriers and 4 bells. thumb|Memorial at Atwater Village, Los Angeles A ceremony commemorating the event was held on the first anniversary, in which attendees honored the victims and recognized the heroes who helped save lives. Attorneys Brian Spanish and Jerome Ringler filed a negligence lawsuit against Metrolink on behalf of a dozen victims in January 2009, claiming that the engineer saw the Jeep 3/4 mile m away but did not apply the emergency brakes until 800 ft away.Lopez Robert J. January 30, 2009 Attorneys for victims in 2005 Glendale train crash fault engineer en-US Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-30-me-glendale-train-crash30-story.html May 12, 2018 0458-3035 In an October 14, 2009, article appearing in the Los Angeles Times, Metrolink announced it had reached an agreement to settle most of the remaining claims.L.A. Now Los Angeles Times http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/metrolink-pays-30-million-to-settle-most-case-in-2005-train-crash.html live October 16, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091016000906/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/metrolink-pays-30-million-to-settle-most-case-in-2005-train-crash.html October 16, 2009 By the following month, Metrolink paid $30 million in lawsuit settlements, with several large payments of multiple million dollars for four cases.November 26, 2009 Metrolink Pays $30 Million in Settlements for 2005 Train Crash en-US Samer Habbas & Associates https://www.habbaspilaw.com/metrolink-pays-settlements-train-crash/ May 12, 2018 Other litigation against Metrolink was still ongoing, raising the settlement to a tentative $39 million in December 2009, which closes the majority of the 186 complaints against the agency, eleven wrongful death lawsuits, and sixteen serious injury lawsuits.Hicken Melanie December 30, 2009 Metrolink Reaches Tentative $39-Million Settlement; Attorney for Victims of the Deadly 2005 Derailment in Glendale says Just One Lawsuit Remains Outstanding Glendale News-Press http://www.ringlerlawcorp.com/39-Million-Settlement-in-TrainCrash-Glendale-News-Press.pdf The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), the governing body of Metrolink, has invested over $500 million to buttress safety features along 512 mile of track from Ventura to San Bernardino and the northern San Diego counties. Upgrades included are "sealed" grade crossings, safer rail cars and locomotives, automatic train stops and the nation's first onboard rail video cameras and the SCRRA is included in the nation's first positive train control system. Casualties Eleven people were killed in the collision, while between 100 and 200 people were injured.Farhi Paul Edds Kimberly March 16, 2005 Blood on the Tracks en-US Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/03/16/blood-on-the-tracks/e35751e3-77f4-4ce4-b5a8-ffc24f4e798a/ May 12, 2018 0190-8286 Manuel Alcala, 51 Julia Bennett, 44 Alfonso Caballero, 62 Elizabeth Hill, 62 Henry Kilinski, 39 Scott McKeown, 42 Thomas Ormiston, 58, the conductor of train #901 William Parent, 53 Leonard Romero, 53 James Tutino, 47 Don Wiley, 58 Suspect Juan Manuel Álvarez was allegedly suicidal long before the incident occurred. According to some reports, he had attempted suicide previously. In addition, he was a known methamphetamine addict prone to delusional behavior. At the time of the crash, Álvarez, the father of two young children, was experiencing marital difficulties; his wife, Carmelita Ochoa, had filed a restraining order against him months before the incident, claiming he had become erratic, threatening and controlling to her and their children. He reportedly was employed as a handyman in the Los Angeles suburb of Compton.Castro Tony July 16, 2008 Train wrecker Juan Manuel Alvarez, 29, gets life in prison Los Angeles Daily News http://www.dailynews.com/20080716/train-wrecker-juan-manuel-alvarez-29-gets-life-in-prison Police initially believed that Álvarez decided to kill himself on the day of the collision, but that he changed his mind immediately before the train hit his vehicle, jumping out of the car and observing as the crash took place. He fled the scene but was later found at a friend's home in Atwater Village. He was charged with, and subsequently convicted of, eleven counts of murder with "special circumstances". Police say following investigations indicated Álvarez may have intended to cause the crash without committing suicide. Authorities filed additional charges against him for murder with intent.The Associated Press Deadly train wreck will be a capital case August 27, 2005 http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050827/news_1n27region.html North County Times August 19, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20160224003826/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20050827/news_1n27region.html dead February 24, 2016 Legal proceedings Prosecutors sought the death penalty against Álvarez under a seldom-used state law under which train wrecking resulting in a person's death is a capital offense.189The law dates from 1873,2 and was used to prosecute Old West train robbers who were known to blow up tracks to rob trains.August 26, 2005 Death penalty sought against man accused in Glendale crash en-US San Diego Union-Tribune Associated Press http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/08/27/news/state/18_15_338_26_05.txt dead November 6, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081016225459/http://www.nctimes.com:80/articles/2005/08/27/news/state/18_15_338_26_05.txt October 16, 2008 During the trial, the defense maintained their claim that the crash was the result of Álvarez's aborted suicide attempt and he never intended to hurt anyone, but prosecutors claimed he deliberately caused the crash in an attempt to get attention from his estranged wife, citing that he doused his SUV with gasoline beforehand. A relative of one of the victims questioned why Álvarez did not simply lie down on the tracks if it was really a suicide attempt. On June 26, 2008, Álvarez was found guilty of eleven counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances and one count of arson related to the incident.June 27, 2008 Verdict in train wreck: murder https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-27-me-metrolink27-story.html Los Angeles Times He was acquitted of the train-wrecking charge.Jablon Robert Man found guilty of murders in Calif. rail crash https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080626/ap_on_re_us/train_derail;_ylt=An2UqykW6hq5_KLUCjRNtYis0NUE dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080628012153/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080626/ap_on_re_us/train_derail June 28, 2008 February 9, 2016 On July 15, the jury recommended life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. On August 20, Álvarez was formally sentenced to eleven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. See also Los Angeles 2008 Chatsworth train collisionA Metrolink train crash also on the Ventura County Line. Selby rail crashA train crash in the UK in February 2001 under similar circumstances: a pushed train, an automobile on the track, and another train on an adjacent track. Ufton Nervet rail crashA train crash in the UK in November 2004 under similar circumstances: a suicidal person causing a derailment Valhalla train crashA train crash in New York in February 2015 with vehicle on train tracks with driver's behavior disputed. 2015 Oxnard train derailmentA Metrolink crash in Los Angeles in February 2015 involving vehicle on train tracks. List of homicides in California References Further reading AP, Man may have caused Metrolink crash for wife https://web.archive.org/web/20050515062149/http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=12843 May 15, 2005 . Retrieved February 18, 2005. AP, Man pleads innocent in Calif. train wreck. Retrieved February 16, 2005. January 28, 2005 LA suicide crash 'spawns copycat' BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4214407.stm live January 28, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20110404134955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4214407.stm April 4, 2011 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Metrolink accident kills 11; BLET Safety Task Force to help investigate https://web.archive.org/web/20050515063436/http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=4071 May 15, 2005 . Retrieved February 1, 2005. Bronstad Amanda SUV driver's arraignment delayed in train accident case http://www.labusinessjournal.com/article.asp?aID=65943305.9467258.1094236.6631607.3804942.607&aID2=84163 Los Angeles Business Journal January 28, 2005 Lloyd de Vries February 18, 2005 Parked car caused train wreck CBS AP http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/26/national/main669449.shtml dead January 26, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20110523214023/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/26/national/main669449.shtml May 23, 2011 Train Wreck An Attention Grab? CBS AP http://www.cbsnews.com/news/train-wreck-an-attention-grab/ live January 27, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20140219200420/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/train-wreck-an-attention-grab/ February 19, 2014 Gonzalez Maria Keating Jessica 11 killed amid Metrolink 'chaos' Ventura County Star http://www3.knoxnews.com/kns/home/article/0,1406,KNS_343_3501777,00.html dead January 27, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20070812033508/http://www3.knoxnews.com/kns/home/article/0%2C1406%2CKNS_343_3501777%2C00.html August 12, 2007 Gorman Steve January 6, 2005 Ten die in LA train crash; murder charge planned http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20050126/ten-die-in-la-train-crash-murder-charge-planned January 2, 2017 Herland-Tribune Reuters Liu, Caitlin, and Torrejon, Veronica; Los Angeles Times, Train service is fully restored. Retrieved February 1, 2005. Molloy, Tim; Associated Press, Suicide try triggers California commuter rail tragedy, police say. Retrieved January 26, 2005. Michael Muskal Jesus Sanchez Man Faces Charges in Metrolink Collision Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-012605crash_lat,0,6086765.story?coll=la-home-headlines live January 26, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20110604113407/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-012605crash_lat%2C0%2C6086765.story?coll=la-home-headlines June 4, 2011 February 3, 2005 Metrolink train operators to honor fallen conductor NBC 4 http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/pf_headline.asp?id=12677 live February 3, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20140817173858/http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/pf_headline.asp?id=12677 August 17, 2014 Serjeant Jill Murder charges for Calif. man over train wreck Reuters https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7456170 dead January 27, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20050305045256/https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7456170 March 5, 2005 Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Metrolink Timetable No. 4 (effective July 3, 2005), page RV-1. Trains News Wire, 10 killed, hundreds injured after parked vehicle on tracks causes derailment of two Metrolink commuter trainsDecember 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes . Retrieved 12:00 January 27, 2005 UTC. Trains News Wire (August 29, 2005), Prosecutors to seek death penalty for derailment suspectDecember 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes . Retrieved August 30, 2005. Valencia-Martinez Angie Boghossian Naush Grief spreads into Ventura County Los Angeles Daily News http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2675951,00.html dead January 27, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20050815082422/http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0%2C1413%2C200~20954~2675951%2C00.html August 15, 2005 Various; Wikinews, People killed as three trains crash in Los Angeles. Revised 17:16 January 26, 2005 UTC. Lead Counsel for plaintiffs, Jerome Ringler, Message for Victims of Chatsworth Metrolink Disaster. Retrieved September 25, 2008. External links Amended Felony Complaint: People of the State of California v. Juan Manuel Alvarez Memorial near the Glendale crash site Glendale train crash Category:2005 disasters in the United States Category:2005 murders in the United States Category:Accidents and incidents involving Metrolink (California) 2005 Glendale train crash Category:Derailments in the United States Category:Railroad crossing accidents in the United States Category:2005 mass murders Category:Mass murders in California Category:2000s mass murders in the United States Category:Suicide by train Category:2000s crimes in California Category:Railway accidents in 2005 Category:Arson in 2005 Category:January 2005 crimes in the United States Category:Arson in California