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Glendale Train Wreck: Meet Juan Alvarez
The Washington Post profiles Juan Alvarez, the man who police say caused the Glendale train wreck. According to the story, Alvarez's family believes that he left his parked Jeep on the tracks because:
"He was there, and out of nowhere he basically saw a light," says Carmelita Alvarez, who has visited her husband in jail. "Not the light from the train. He said he felt like there was a presence from God telling him to get away."
Unsurprisingly, the accident's investigators differ.
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Alvarez wasn't trying to kill himself, says Sgt. Tom Lorenz, a police spokesman. "He may have thought about committing suicide, but his actions are not consistent with that," he said. "When you're contemplating suicide, would you light yourself on fire? How many people kill themselves that way? Why not lie down on the tracks? Why would you walk away and watch the train hit your car?"
The defense is expected to argue that the answer is, "Because Alvarez is suicidal and mentally ill."
LAist on the accident, morning-after rail accident coverage, helping train accident victims, bloggers documenting the accident, the fallout from the accident, predatory lawyers circling the accident victims
Photo credited to the Los Angeles Times.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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