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By Kent Scheidegger et al.

Train Crash Could Result in Death Penalty. On the morning of January 26, 2005, Juan Miguel Alvarez parked his jeep on the Los Angeles Metrolink tracks about 1/2 mile from downtown Glendale. As a train full of commuters approached, Alvarez ran from the jeep. The collision killed eleven and injured 180. In an LA Times story, writer Ann S. Simmons reports that, at the upcoming trial, Alvarez will claim that he was attempting suicide and never intended to hurt anyone. The prosecution will argue that the jeep was doused with gasoline with the parking brake set when Alvarez left it, suggesting he intended to kill. If the jury finds intent, he could receive a death sentence. Murder in the course of train wrecking is a "special circumstance" in California...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime and Consequences on April 28, 2008 (boomark / email).