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Metrolink Spokeswoman Quits After Quickly Blaming Engineer

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Not even 24 hours after the crash, Metrolink Spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell announced that the engineer was to blame because he ran a red light. According to CBS2, she was authorized by the CEO to release the fact and that it was based off a confirmation from the National Transportation Safety Board investigation.

But the NTSB was quick to say that was premature and halted Metrolink from announcing anything else. "I don't know on what basis Metrolink made that statement. We really work very hard not to jump to conclusions," Kitty Higgins is quoted in the LA Times from the Sunday news conference in Woodland Hills.

She quit yesterday releasing this statement: "As a result of actions taken during a closed session Metrolink board of directors meeting yesterday afternoon, as well as subsequent press statements by Metrolink board members concerning me -- I have resigned my position as spokesperson for Metrolink."

It should be noted that throughout this tragedy, Metrolink has sent out zero e-mails to its usual press list that LAist is on. However, they did set up a webpage to keep people informed.

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