Case 204
The Glendale Train Crash
On January 26 2005, 25-year-old Juan Alvarez parked his car on a railway line in Glendale, Los Angeles, causing an explosive train crash that killed and injured dozens of commuters. Alvarez, plagued by family troubles and a difficult past, claimed it was an accident but those who witnessed the crash said otherwise. Was Alvarez an innocent victim or a calculating killer?
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research – Holly Boyd
Writing – Jessica Forsayeth
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
COURT DOCUMENTS
People v Alvarez, Court of Appeals of California, Second District, Division One, January 24, 2012
GOVERNMENT REPORTS
Crashworthiness analysis of the January 26, 2005 Glendale, California rail collision – Joint Rail Conference
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Disaster on the rails – Journal of Emergency Medical Services
NEWS ARTICLES
10 die in LA train crash; murder charge planned – Herald Tribune
Train hits SUV — 11 die in Glendale / Suicidal man blamed for crash – SF Gate
California train strikes an SUV; at least 11 dead – The New York Times
Among Dead were the loyal, caring, positive and helpful – LA Times
A goodbye to ‘Papa Tom’ – BLET
A life story that no news report can tell – The Bakersfield Californian
Blood on the tracks – Washington Post
Ceremony observes anniversary of crash – Daily News
1 year after Metrolink crash, family mourns – Daily News
Metrolink victims’ families testify – ABC 7
Defendant’s sister testifies – LA Times
Juan Alvarez takes the witness stand in Metrolink crash trial – Daily News
Prosecution grills Alvarez – LA Times
The man, the myth, the murderer – Daily News
Murder conviction in train collision – SF Gate
Train wrecker Juan Manuel Alvarez, 29, gets life in prison – Daily News
Alvarez’s sentencing underway – LA Times
Man who caused fatal train wreck receives 11 life sentences – Daily News
Life without parole recommended for convicted Metrolink killer – Simi Valley Acorn
Appellate panel considers conviction in 2005 train derailment – LA Times
Train victim’s husband dies in cycle crash – Daily News
Attorneys for victims in 2005 Glendale train crash fault engineer – LA Times
Victims of 2005 Metrolink crash settle for $30 million – The Orange County Register
In the 10 years since the Glendale train crash – Daily News
Officials look back at deadly 2005 crash – LA Times
Two years after Chatsworth crash, Metrolink tries to look forward – 89.3 KPCC
OBITUARIES