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Texting May Have Caused L.A. Train Wreck that Killed 25

By Steven Rodriguez

Authorities now suspect that the train collision that killed 25 Los Angeles commuters last week was caused by the engineer’s inattention while he was using his cell phone to text message friends. Federal investigators have determined that there were no obstructions on the track and that signals were working properly. Metrolink officials have blamed engineer Robert Sanchez for ignoring a red signal light designed to prevent such collisions. While investigators did not find a cell phone belonging to the engineer in the wreckage, two teen train buffs befriended by the engineer said they received text messages from him just one minute before the crash. Metrolink prohibits the use of cell phones on the job, but Michael Peevey, President of the California Public Utilities Commission, said the policy is widely ignored...continue to full post

Full post as published by LA Criminal Defense Blog on September 17, 2008 (boomark / email).