By now, most of Los Angeles and much of the world has gotten wind of the deadly Metrolink derailment that took place yesterday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. in Chatsworth, when a commuter train carrying 225 people collided with a freight train, killing dozens and critically injuring many more. While officials stated today that shortly after 2:30 p.m. the search for victims had come to a close, investigators and medical personnel were still working on the bottom level of the double decker car.

Here is a run down of what we know:

• The death toll has reached 25, with more than 135 injured. The Los Angeles Times reports that 100 people were taken to hospitals (60 by ambulance and 40 by helicopter). All 12 trauma centers in Los Angeles handled patients.
• Among the fatally injured were LAPD Officer Spree Desha, 35, of Simi Valley and Paul Long, an English teacher at Oaks Christian School, who died this afternoon after being taken off life support at County-USC Medical Center.

• Metrolink officials have concluded that the collision occurred because an engineer failed to obey a red light telling him to stop.
• The engineer was a subcontractor with Veolia Transportation as well as a former Amtrak employee. It was later confirmed that he was killed in the crash.
• Four out of five crew members between both trains had survived and had been interviewed by investigators.
• The night teams had used hydraulic jacks to keep the most badly damaged passenger car from falling over and other specialized rescue equipment to gently tear apart the metal, The Associated Press reported.
• Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Huntington Hospital, Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center and Northridge Hospital Medical Center received patients from the derailment.
• The accident has caused Amtrak to delay certain routes today. Pacific Surfliner trains and their connecting buses (between San Luis Obispo and Goleta and Los Angeles) will not run.

Looking to help the victims of one of the deadliest Metrolink derailments in Southern California history? The best thing you can do right now is donate blood. UCLA Blood & Platelet Center is accepting donations and appointments can be made by calling (310) 794-7217. The Red Cross is also a great place to get into contact with and you can reach them by calling 800-REDCROSS.

Photo by juvertson

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Related Post

• NoHo Scene: Everything You Want in One Place
• LA Arts: Flip Flops and Platforms
• Concert Review: Verona Grove at Crane’s Hollywood Tavern
• Free Shows for the Weekend: Mariachi Divas, Gongmyoung, Bali and Beyond
• LA Art: Downtown Art Walk - Clean Hands Dirty Hands
• LA Food: Eat Well for Cheap
• Free Shows: The Parson Red Heads, Eleni Mandell, Rumspringa