Deadly Train Derailment in L.A. Suburb

Jan. 26, 2005 — -- Two commuter train derailed before dawn today in a Los Angeles suburb, killing at least five people and injuring dozens, authorities told ABC news affiliate KABC in Los Angeles.

According to eyewitnesses, the crash occurred between a Metrolink train and a Unio Pacific train after 6 a.m. local time near the intersection of San Fernando Road and Chevy Chase Boulevard. Two separate trains could be seen derailed. One of the commuter trains was propelled into a Union Pacific locomotive that was parked on a side track overnight, Union Pacificspokesman John Bromley said.

One of the commuter trains was headed from Los Angeles' UnionStation to downtown Burbank, and the other was bound from UnionStation to Moorpark, Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said.

Fire Capt. Rex Vilaubi told KABC-TV in Los Angeles, "at this point we have three confirmed dead" in the crash of the train headed from Los Angeles' Union Station to downtown Burbank.

Amid smoke from the twisted wreckage at the crash scene, firefighters were seen carrying injured people from the cars, as smoke wafted from twisted wreckage at the scene of thecrash. Firefighters set up a command post in a nearby parking lot, where injured people could be seen lying on mats awaiting treatment.

"There are multiple injuries," Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell told ABC7. "We are at the moment attending to those injuies on the ground and we're assessing the situation."

One of the commuter trains was propelled into a Union Pacificlocomotive that was parked on a side track overnight, Union Pacificspokesman John Bromley said. One of the commuter trains was headed from Los Angeles' UnionStation to downtown Burbank, and the other was bound from UnionStation to Moorpark, Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said. George Touma, 19, of Burbank told The Associated Press he was called by his mother, who was on one of the Metrolink trains.

"She told me she was bleeding in the head and her arm wasreally hurting," said Touma, who was searching for her. "I'mreally worried because she has vertigo and when I tried to callback she wouldn't answer.

"She said she remembered hearing sequential loud noises andthen somebody pulled her out of the train while it was burning. Shewas in a panicked mode and now she's not picking up."