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Metrolink 2005 Crash: $30 Million Settlment for Most Cases
It was January 26th, 2005 when Juan Alvarez parked his gasoline-drenched Jeep Cherokee on train tracks in Glendale. He said it was an attempt to commit suicide before he changed his mind the last minute. He jumped out of the way before "a fast-moving Metrolink train struck the SUV, derailed and struck a parked Union Pacific locomotive before colliding with another Metrolink train traveling in the other direction," as the Associated Press describes. 11 people died and 180 were injured. Alverez was convicted of murder last year.
Today, attorneys for the crash victims announced that the commuter line will pay about $30 million to settle the majority, about 90 percent, of cases. Among those were nine wrongful death claims and 15 serious injury cases. If the rest of the cases are not settled, a court date is set for January 4th.