http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...s/train_derail
Quote:
GLENDALE, Calif. - A suicidal man who allegedly parked his SUV in the path of a commuter train and triggered a horrific wreck that killed 11 people was charged with murder and could face the death penalty, authorities said Thursday.
The criminal case moved forward against Juan Manuel Alvarez as police and forensics experts worked to gather evidence from the crime scene and coroner's investigators searched the tangled wreckage for any remaining body parts.
Prosecutors have not decided if they will seek the death penalty against Alvarez, 25, who had been ordered by a court to stay away from his family after his wife alleged he abused drugs and threatened them.
Authorities say he also had slashed his wrists and stabbed himself at some point during his aborted suicide attempt. He remained hospitalized Thursday, and a court hearing was set for Friday.
District Attorney Steve Cooley said Thursday prosecutors were evaluating Alvarez's mental state in deciding a possible punishment, but he asserted that the man's mental issues were no defense.
"His despondency doesn't move me," Cooley said. "The mere fact that he was a little upset or despondent doesn't mean he has a defense for anything."
Authorities say Alvarez drove his green Jeep Cherokee into the path of a Metrolink commuter train early Wednesday. He then changed his mind and got out of the vehicle just before the Jeep was struck by a train heading to Los Angeles, police said. That train derailed, plowed into a parked freight train and struck another train heading in the opposite direction. The second train also derailed.
He stood by as the gruesome chain-reaction wreck scattered debris and bodies over a quarter-mile of track. It was the nation's worst train wreck in nearly six years.
Alvarez was charged with 10 counts of murder, but another count was to be added following the discovery of an 11th body in the mangled trains. Everyone from the crash was accounted for Thursday.
Alvarez's family retained defense attorney Eric A. Chase, but he planned no comment until after Friday's court appearance, said Dann Novak, senior administrator of Chase Law Group.
Court documents show that Alvarez's estranged wife, Carmelita Alvarez, obtained a restraining order against him in December, requiring him to keep away from her, their 3-year-old son and other family members.
"He is using drugs and has been in and out of rehab twice," she said in asking for the restraining order. "He threatened to take our kid away and to hurt my family members."
Carmelita Alvarez, who went into seclusion shortly after the crash, also had told the court her husband's drug use was triggering hallucinations.
Meanwhile, police began collecting forensic evidence from the scene for the prosecution, using laser measuring devices to create a digital map of the wreckage.
Two large cargo containers were brought in to store evidence. Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said evidence as large as a rail car may be preserved for the investigation and trial.
Thursday marked a return to business as usual at a nearby Costco store where workers on the early shift were among the first to help injured people out of the wreckage, bringing out fire extinguishers to attack flames that erupted in one car.
"It's a lot better. It was a disaster here yesterday," said Raim Quiros, 29, a Costco tire shop employee who spent the previous day supplying firefighters with pizza, salads and hot dogs.
Separately, a suicidal man who parked his sport utility vehicle on railroad tracks in Orange County was arrested Thursday, said Irvine police Cmdr. Dave Freedland, declining to say if it was a copycat situation. The man drove off when police spotted him and, after a chase, a dispatcher talked him out of suicide during a cell phone call.
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My mother was on that train. She's doing ok now. The people who died were in the front car... she was in the second car. She takes this train to work every day. She's gotten to know the passengers. Here is what she sent to me this morning:
The train Accident is really hanging over my head... I have to explain to everyone at work they all were worried about me ...
My neck is so stiff... that I can not look down... even to eat... I had to left up my plate to see where to put the knife.
Don broke his leg below the knee... He went into surgery this morning... Last night after they go him to the Hospital... he was feeling no pain... However there are 11 people that died... and I knew by face a few of them... that is so sad.... The man that caused this accident should be left alone to commit suicide... they should not try to stop him
My mom is not the most opinionated person... at least, she doesn't share much of her opinions with me, so this is very revealing to me. And it gets me thinking...
At this point, is this person even worthy of therapy? Does he deserve the attention to actually repair his shattered life? Should he just be left to his own devices now... and just be left to exterminate himself? Why would we even try to prevent him from doing it after this?
I think we as a society are too caught up in the value of life. A life, to me, is only as valueable as it sees itself. The ban on euthanasia, the entire concept of suicide negotiators... none of it makes sense to me. Let the fuckers die how they want to. Are we afraid for their souls or something? They are troubled people. They are sick people.
Now, I realize I may be rubbing a LOT of people the wrong way. I realize that there are tons of you who have contemplated and even attempted suicide before. I realize that you're now healthy, functioning human beings who are living a happy life and making the lives of people around you better. And it wouldn't be so if not for the efforts of your friends or social workers to get you on the right track. Great. A success story. Fine.
You were worthy. You had people who cared about you enough to help you. This guy was worthless. This guy has done enough damage. He's used his worthless life to end those of 11 others who valued who they were. They had people who cared about them.. who depended on them.
Let us all be the masters of our own destiny.