Eighteen people were confirmed dead. At least 135 are injured, with 80 in critical condition. An LAPD officer was among those killed in the train crash.
Update: 13:03hrs - 23 Dead-135 injured
Update: 10:50hrs - An 18th body -- possibly that of the freight train conductor, who had previously been identified as among the dead -- was found as heavy machinery pulled apart the trains this morning. The body was pulled from the cab of the toppled Union Pacific engine about 8:45 a.m. Firefighters gathered around to shield the body from photographers, then shrouded it in a white sheet before carrying it gently to a coroner's trailer.
Update: 09:55hrs - Metrolink spokesperson has come forward to say that the company was at fault in the tragic accident. Metrolink officials said an engineer on the Metrolink train that collided with a freight train ignored a signal telling him to stop.
Had the engineer stopped, the accident would not have occurred, said Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell.
"We want to be honest in our appraisal," she said.The commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train collided in Chatsworth Friday afternoon, trapping passengers inside at least three Metrolink cars, one of which was burning.
A National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) investigation is anticipated.
Location: Chatsworth, Los Angeles County - Off Canoga and Rinaldi, Chatsworth, Los Angeles County
Date/Time of incident: 09/12/08 at 1623 hours
IC: Command post located at Chatsworth Park - Unified Command is with Los Angeles County Fire and Los Angeles Police Department is at the Chatsworth Academy.
Resources:
* At this time, OES Personnel on-scene:
* One (1) OES Assistant Fire Chief,
* One (1) OES Assistant Law Chief
* OES Southern Region representative
* En Route, OES Personnel:
* OES Chief Deputy Director
* Deputy Director, Regional Operations
* Deputy Director, Office of Public Information
* The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) advised:
*One (1) Ambulance Strike Team with a Supervisor and 5 Advanced Life Support (ALS), American Medical Response (AMR) Units were requested and sent from Ventura County.
*Two Ventura County Fire Paramedic squads also responded.
* There was a request for Law Enforcement Mutual Aid (LEMA) resources, cadaver search dogs which the OES Law Branch coordinated.
* Kern County also flew 2 rescue k-9s to the scene.
California Highway Patrol:
* The California Highway Patrol (CHP) assisted with traffic control for the on and off ramps from State Route (SR) 118 to Topanga Road.
* One (1) CHP chief, one (1) CHP lieutenant, one (1) CHP sergeant and seven (7) CHP officers assisted with the evacuation of the trains.
* CHP Personnel on scene at this time:
* One (1) sergeant, at command post
* One (1) officer, assisting with traffic control
Caltrans:
* The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is assisting with road closures of State Route (SR) 118 at the Junction of SR 27 in Los Angeles.
* Approximately 10 Caltrans personnel on scene at this time.
Situation Update: The California State Warning Center (CSWC) was notified on September 12, 2008 at 1632 hrs: A Metrolink commuter train collided with a Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) freight train off Canoga and Rinaldi, Chatsworth, Los Angeles County.
As a result of the collision four (4) cars derailed with one of the passenger cars derailing onto its side.
Firefighters extinguished a fire under part of the wreckage and removed passengers from the damaged Metrolink car.
* There are simultaneous rescue and recovery operations underway.
* There are 25 confirmed fatalities at this time - Death toll is expected to rise.
* There were 135 patients transported to local hospitals.
Thirty-one (31) of the most critically injured patients were transported to the following facilities.* There are 25 confirmed fatalities at this time - Death toll is expected to rise.
* There were 135 patients transported to local hospitals.
North Ridge Medical Center, Holy Cross Pacifica, West Hills, Glendale Adventist, Glendale Methodist, Hollywood Presbyterian, Los Robles Medical Center, Henry Mayo, Newhall, Tarzana Medical Center
Note: There are an unknown number of bodies beneath the overturned elements of both trains and there are voids beneath the overturns that have yet to be accessed to search for survivors. Death toll is expected to rise.
* A reunification center for families of train passengers is set up at Chatsworth high school at 10027 Lurline Ave in Chatsworth, Los Angeles County.
Traffic Impacts and closures:
State Route (SR) 118 closed at the Junction of SR 27 in Los Angeles. No entry is allowed to in or out of the area.
* Caltrans is discussing re-opening the westbound connector of State Route 118 to State Route 27.
Railway Impact:
* It is estimated it will take approximately 48 hours to clear the railroad tracks at this time. The line is closed to both commodity and passenger transportation.
Cooperating agencies at this time:
* Los Angeles City Fire Department
* Los Angeles County Fire Department
* Los Angeles Police Department (50 Personnel)
* Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office (25 Personnel)
* Ventura County Fire Department
* Ventura County Sheriffs Office
* California Highway Patrol (2 Personnel)
* California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
* Los Angeles Department of Transportation
* National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
* Transportation Safety Administration (TSA),
* Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
* Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR)
* MetroLink
* Beverly Hills Fire Department
* Kern County Sheriffs Office
* Los Angeles County Coroner
* Los Angeles County Hazmat
* OES Fire Branch
* OES Law Branch
* OES Southern Region
Note:
* There was a small diesel spill; however it was a minor issue.
(This report may contain unconfirmed information)
Just for clarification, Kern County Fire flew the K9 teams to the incident.
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