Piano World Home Page Forums Restricted and Archives The Coffee Room Train Wreck in L.A.

Some 25 year old guy tried to commit suicide this morning.
He slit his wrists.
It didn't work.
He stabbed himself in the chest.
Still living.

So he parked his SUV on the train tracks and waited for a train.
But when the commuter train approached he chickened out again.
He jumped out and left his SUV on the tracks.
He watched while the train hit his SUV.
Then it hit another parked train.
Then it hit another train oncoming train filled with commuters.

10 dead so far including one cop.
Hundreds hurt.
The suspect tried to flee.
He is now in custody charged with homicide, and has expressed remorse.

Unfortunately both trains were in the push mode so the passenger cars collided directly and got the brunt of the impact.
If they were in the pull mode the much heavier locomotives would have taken much of the impact, probably saving lives.

In L.A. they don't bother turning trains around.
They just put them in reverse.

This may change as a result of this accident.

Well, if he didn't feel like crap before (and apparently he did) he certainly feels like crap now. Anyhow, he's in for a lot of therapy. Unfortunately, so are hundreds of others (who may never have needed it) as a result of this.

Cindy, there's the roulette wheel in play.

In L.A. they don't bother turning trains around.

That is not something easily accomplished like turning around your car.

I was in an Amtrak train that hit a suicide car last year. That's one of the more selfish ways to take your life as it screws up thousands of other peoples' plans, as well as all of the freight train schedules. Plus the coroner has to trudge through a mile of knee deep snow because the car gets pushed way past the intersection. Then they need to collect all body parts strewn about on both sides of the train. It was really fun for us to watch this all transpire with my 2 preschool girls.

I heard about this earlier today. Just think about what could be done randomly with a few thousand bucks and some junk cars? All they need to be able to do is drive down the tracks a bit.

Guys,

My brother takes that commuter train EVERY DAY to work (he lives in Moorpark and commutes downtown Los Angeles), the one that was full of people. Not the same route but a different time. THE SAME ROUTE, THE SAME TIME.

He wasn't on it it today. Had to catch a plane for a business trip, so he headed to the airport in his car.

It's been an emotional day.

penny

Mysterious ways Penny...I'm happy for you and your brother.

Has it ever occurred to these whackos that they can accomplish their objective without their vehicle, by standing or lying on the tracks? Not enough gall? How about tying or handcuffing yourself to the rails? That way you only take yourself out, and the passengers aren't put in harm's way.

Our cities are getting denser and more crowded with more and more whackos. 9/11 showed us our vulnerability to a handful of anti-social individuals. This train wreck opens the question of how to address the general public's vulnerability when many individuals don't have the responsibility or conscience to handle other people's safety. Ever get a freaky feeling when standing on a subway platform? What nutbag is standing behind you?

Face it, if some suicidal maniac out there wanted to, he could take out hundreds of people. How can we protect ourselves against that?

I say, The Terminator ought to oblige this individual to his wishes and show him the proper way to exit life.

Justme,

Forgive me. But the vision of a Las Vegas roulette wheel just seems out of place in this scene.

I don't pretend to understand the mechanical intracacies of the working or dificiencies of the rail system. If something can be fixed, I sincerely hope they will it.

Personally, there are way too many accidents at rail crossings for my comfort. I don't know the answer, but I do hope something good will come as a result of this tragedy.

Justme,

Forgive me. But the vision of a Las Vegas roulette wheel just seems out of place in this scene.

I don't pretend to understand the mechanical intracacies of the working or dificiencies of the rail system. If something can be fixed, I sincerely hope they will fix it.

Personally, there are way too many accidents at rail crossings for my comfort. I don't know the answer, but I do hope something good will come as a result of this tragedy.

Get your facts straight; this "accident" did not occur at a rail crossing. He deliberately drove his vehicle to an area off-limits to vehicular traffic. You can't legislate against idiocy. I think to live in today's society there's a certain level of competency you should have to demonstrate, because otherwise, you are a risk to the public at large. Nothing good will come out of this tragedy; 10 families were just destroyed and hundreds upset. You should be denouncing it.

bcarey, he wasn't on the road at a crossing. He drove down the tracks a bit. On purpose.

Get your own facts straight!

I clearly stated that I did not know what caused this accident. I am not advocating any kind of legislation! Get it!

My reference to rail crossing accidents was only mentioned to bring attention to the fact that accidents at rail crossings are a real problem. I seriously doubt that anyone can distinguish between a suicide attempt or some idiot intentionally trying to beat the train across the track.

Bottom line. Either way, both cause accidents and lives. Do get one of your own, if you please.

Penny that is very disturbing.
I'm glad he is safe.


We can't.
And we shouldn't try.
Why do Americans have this ludicrous expectation of safety.

Of course we all denounce what this guy did today.
No punishment is severe enough.

But even if we spend billions to convert every rail grade-crossing in the country to a bridge some guy can just kill thousands in a million other ways.

After the Tylenol-cyanide event makers put "safety-seals" on everything.
It is stupid.
You can go into any food store right now with a hypodermic needle and inject poison into bread.
Then what?
Loafs of bread packaged in safes?

Safety is a myth.
An imposible dream.
Billions of dollars are going down the drain on "Homeland Security, and excessive food packaging.

Kenny said it was an aborted suicide attempt, not an accident.

Good points, Kenny.

BTW all the info in my first post came from listening to the local AM news radio station.
They were interviewing officials live at the scene.
I had more info than CNN.

BTW the mayor of Glendale went on record that 12 had died, CNN is still reporting 10.

Penny, I'm very glad to hear your brother is OK. But I'm sure it was quite an emotional experience anyway.

Kenny, I agree with you. But I think people need to keep this philosophy in mind when trying to solve all of the worlds ills by throwing money at them. There is only so much you can do and everything has a price. There are no free lunches.

There is not enough money in the world to protect us from everything. We have to accept trade offs and learn to compromise.

I bake my own bread!

I'm safe from the evil bread spikers!