Metrolink crash into jeep goes to trial on remaining 10% of cases.

Metrolink and the victims’ lawyers have now settled 90% of the injury and wrongful deaths claims from the 2005 Glendale crash for $30 million dollars. The remaining cases will go to trial in January 2010.
The accident occurred on January 26, 2005 when a despondent Juan Manuel Alvarez parked his Jeep Cherokee on the Metrolink tracks while he attempted suicide. Before the train arrived though, he had second thoughts and ran away, but selfishly left his car on the tracks.

The train collided with the vehicle, causing it to jackknife and hit two other trains, one on either side. Originally Metrolink denied any wrongdoing since they blamed the accident on Alvarez’ jeep, but attorneys argued that the “push-pull” train operating system actually made the incident more deadly. With this system, cars in the front of the train are left unprotected and as in this case, the deaths and serious injuries happened in the first train car.

Alvarez was charged and is serving eleven consecutive life sentences; one for each of the murder victims. Additionally there were special circumstances charged and now he has no possibility of parole.