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There are now 9 reported dead. According to Sherrif Lee Baca, the derailment happened because of a car deliberately put on the tracks. One train hit the car and jumped off the tracks hitting a parked Pacific Freight Train and an oncoming metrolink train heading in the opposite direction.
Update:The death toll has now reached ten. The person who left the SUV on the tracks was suicidal. The SUV driver changed his mind about suicide and left the vehicle before it was hit, Police Chief Randy Adams said. The man will be charged with homicide, he said.
Second Update: Xeni at blogging.la notes that the air around the site smells heavily of fuel. The reason: The train crash caused several fires and diesel fuel spills.
Third Update: Michael at Franklin Avenue gives a local report and explains exactly where the crash took place (i.e. right by the Costco).
Fourth Update: Metrolink (whose site is, not surprisingly, a little slow to load right now) and the Antelope Valley Transit Authority have released new commuter schedules for this afternoon and the immediate future so that folks can get home tonight. KCBS has the details.
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This news about the suicidal culprit just makes my blood boil in so many ways. Given that the individual was mentally-ill, how could somone be so selfish to leave a car on the tracks and what a typical Angeleno to not even consider getting out of his car to commit suicide! Irrational thought, but it's what i'm feeling. It's hard enough to get Angelenos to consider public transportation as a way of life and now this adds to the group disinclination.
Besides being relieved that my friend who usually takes that train wasn't on it (after work doc's appt), I'm very, very sad.
This is just senselss.. there are so many truly efficient ways to commit suicide. Why take so many innocent folks with you?