Fatal Metrolink Commuter Train
Collision & Derailment
Glendale, California
January 26, 2005 0610 hrs.
In the early morning hours of January 26th, 2005 a 26 year old Compton man planned his suicide. He parked his Jeep Cherokee on the train tracks at the Chevy Chase crossing in Glendale, California. Moments before the approaching train would collide with his vehicle, he bailed out and ran for safety. The oncoming commuter train carrying hundreds of dozing passengers toward Los Angeles could not stop in time to avoid the collision. It pushed the Jeep southbound along the tracks, buckling and jack-knifing it's passenger cars along the way. Those cars then left the tracks and collided with a northbound commuter train and a stationary freight train. One automobile, three tracks, three trains, eleven dead, hundreds injured. Below are some of the images I took shortly after responding units reported "several walking wounded" emerging from the darkened tracks and twisted wreckage. As I approached the scene, walking southbound along the tracks, a hellish and chaotic rescue scene emerged in front of me. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
All Images Copyright © 2005 Craig M. Durling
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