Jeep Cherokee causes train derailment [Archive] - NAXJA Forums -::- North American XJ Association

Alaskaflyr

January 26th, 2005, 09:15

a guy in a green Jeep Cherokee drove his Jeep onto the train tracks in Los Angeles with the intentions of committing suicide. He changed his mind at the last minute and jumped out of the Cherokee leaving it on the tracks causing a commuter train to derail hitting another train derailing it also. So far 9 dead and 200 injured.

The nuts are out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XJEEPER

January 26th, 2005, 09:41

Hope his death sentance involves being tied to the rails of slow moving freight line......sad outcome for the innocent commuters.

bchulett

January 26th, 2005, 09:55

Are you sure about that ?? ... I saw this on the news before leaving for work and they didn't know the reason for the derailment. A commuter was interviwed and said the train went from 50 to 0 in 2 sec.... must have been one of those heavier Cherokees they hit.

It looked like and was reported that two Metro trains sideswiped each other... but I guess it could have all started with a Jeep.

TRNDRVR

January 26th, 2005, 10:01

bchulett

January 26th, 2005, 10:06

Dan, what does it feel like when a train hits a vehicle ? ... can you actually feel the impact ?

BajaXJ92

January 26th, 2005, 10:20

Dan, what does it feel like when a train hits a vehicle ? ... can you actually feel the impact ?

I'm curious myself....

bchulett

January 26th, 2005, 10:53

Hey you're right ... the news is now reporting a vehicle was left on the track.... if I recall correctly, the same thing happened in the City of Industry a few years ago ... a guy in a Jeep wanted to commit suicide and jumped out at the last minute. I wonder if it was the same guy doing it again.

Fox News Report (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,145446,00.html)

red91

January 26th, 2005, 11:35

a guy in a green Jeep Cherokee drove his Jeep onto the train tracks in Los Angeles with the intentions of committing suicide.

He's going to wish he had after the NTSB has their way with him.

Ramsey

January 26th, 2005, 11:40

must have had a cage with a lot of triangulation

ChiXJeff

January 26th, 2005, 13:10

He's going to wish he had after the NTSB has their way with him.
The line is already starting. I heard on the news a couple of hours ago that the sheriff is on the war path. 10 dead, and one of them was a county deputy.

Art Triggs

January 26th, 2005, 13:23

I will bet that whatever lawyer represents this sob will try to plead not guilty by reason of mental defect, or try to get him classified as incompetent to stand trial.....He shoulda stayed in the Jeep...

Yucca-Man

January 26th, 2005, 13:51

Damn trains. Being some place they shouldn't be. :mad:
You'd think that those trains had the right of way or something. :dunno:

Automobiles on the tracks/running gates are one of my very few pet peeves. :lecture:I read part of a story a few days back that a friggin illegal immigrant who tried the same trick in Castle Rock, CO will be charged for damages to the train, track and nearby equipment...I fully expect him to disappear before BNSF gets a dime out of him.
http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=18949

bocaj

January 26th, 2005, 18:35

Damn trains. Being some place they shouldn't be. :mad:
You'd think that those trains had the right of way or something.
why didnt the train drivers swerve? i heard some one actually ask that

TRNDRVR

January 26th, 2005, 20:16

Dan, what does it feel like when a train hits a vehicle ? ... can you actually feel the impact ?I’ve only had the misfortunate opportunity of hitting a car just once. When you hit things in a train, the way you feel it depends on the angle of the impact and how fast you're going.
I’ve hit a cow at 80 mph dead on, did about $6,000 worth of damage to the front of the locomotive, and felt just a bump. Definitely heard it though. That cow popped like a water balloon. Oh yeah, cows do fly!!!
Hit a car with a freight locomotive at 17 mph, at an angle, shook the crap out the locomotive, and didn’t do a bit of damage. Definitely heard that one too. Wadded that car up like a ball of paper.

Fortunately that’s all I can tell you. I can say that I’m an accomplished hunter!!! Bunny’s, owls, coyotes, foxes, deer, elk, antelope, the list goes on……..

I haven't read all the news about this accident, but the way that train derailed after hitting a car, the engineer was probably running from a cab-car. Meaning he was running from a control stand in the rear car, and the locomotive was actually pushing the train. Cab cars are light..

Captain Ron

January 26th, 2005, 20:26

...
You'd think that those trains had the right of way or something. :dunno:
...

In sailing, it's called the "tonnage" rule.

It was a pusher.

12 dead, and counting.

--ron

JohnJohn

January 26th, 2005, 20:27

Wanna bet this turns into a "Ever seen anyone break a D30?" thread. :wave:

piperRonnie

January 27th, 2005, 05:30

I was amazed at how an XJ could bring that train down.

But when you see the news reports it becomes more clear, the guy parked the jeep across the tracks AWAY from the road way; he was not on the crossing. This being said, the coefficent of friction between the XJ tires and the rocks and cross ties made a huge difference.

I'm going to hypothesize that if the XJ was parked on the crossing, on the road, the jeep would have been 'knocked' out of the way. Still may have been a derailment, but it may have been less severe.

Darky

January 27th, 2005, 06:56

Not that it matters, the damage is done and people died thanks to an idiot either way, but was it a Cherokee or a Grand Cherokee. TRNDRVR's link says Grand Cherokee, FoxNews says Cherokee. Is this a case of people confusing them for each other? Rancho onfuses them even...

Last of the XJ

January 27th, 2005, 07:08

CNN said that the guy is gonna get the death penalty. Talk about having bad press with Jeep in the last day. It really sucks people died. Insane people shouldn't be allowed to drive or work. :mad:

Eagle

January 27th, 2005, 07:17

Dang. The articles I saw said "SUV" but I didn't know it was a Cherokee.

Doesn't matter what brand of SUV it was, the guy is a total whack job and needs to be severely punished.

Eagle

January 27th, 2005, 07:19

CNN said that the guy is gonna get the death penalty. Talk about having bad press with Jeep in the last day. It really sucks people died. Insane people shouldn't be allowed to drive or work. :mad:
CNN is talking through their collective hat. The guy hs been charged with murder, but that's a long way from a conviction, let alone a death sentence. If his intention was to commit suicide and he chickened out at the last moment, I think they'll have a difficult time making a murder charge stick. Murder implies intent, and I don't see that as being present in this case.

JMHO.

JohnJohn

January 27th, 2005, 07:23

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,145538,00.html

I just saw video on Fox during this story. This guy was driving an XJ. What's with you people. :wierd:

ucilxj

January 27th, 2005, 07:29

CNN is talking through their collective hat. The guy hs been charged with murder, but that's a long way from a conviction, let alone a death sentence. If his intention was to commit suicide and he chickened out at the last moment, I think they'll have a difficult time making a murder charge stick. Murder implies intent, and I don't see that as being present in this case.

JMHO.

But wouldnt it be the same situation as someone charged in murder in a DUI?. . .theres no intent on killing someone especially those in your own vehicle. . so, Im thinking it would be a situation like that. . something like reckless homicide.

Darky

January 27th, 2005, 07:37

It'll probably be manslaughter or negligent homicide or something like that. They both stipulate that the person didn't necessarily intend to kill anyone but people have died as the result of his actions.

red91

January 27th, 2005, 07:49

Dang. The articles I saw said "SUV" but I didn't know it was a Cherokee.

Doesn't matter what brand of SUV it was, the guy is a total whack job and needs to be severely punished.

Not only that...he was arrested for Possesion of a Controled Substance, and burglary...Just another fine person making his way through life ripping people off to buy crack...

TRNDRVR

January 27th, 2005, 08:00

Here's a link to a whole slew of articles that should take a while to read. Lots of information. All the links are on the right hand side of the front page under "DAILY HEADLINES".
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (http://www.ble.org/default.asp)

Yucca-Man

January 27th, 2005, 13:35

was it a Cherokee or a Grand Cherokee. TRNDRVR's link says Grand Cherokee, FoxNews says Cherokee. Is this a case of people confusing them for each other? Rancho onfuses them even...Jeep even advertises them that way - in the past two years or so I've seen a number of print and TV ads for "02 (or 03, 04) Cherokees" when they are really referring to the WJ Grand Cherokee...

Ivan

January 27th, 2005, 14:23

Wanna bet this turns into a "Ever seen anyone break a D30?" thread. :wave:

Or even worst... it wasn't "rail rated"....

I know... that was bad.... :gag:

DrMoab

January 27th, 2005, 15:28

Local news here last night said Pre-Meditated murder....Thats pretty clear...they are out for blood...Prolly wont stick but I hope it does.

woody

January 27th, 2005, 15:35

[QUOTE=Insane people shouldn't be allowed to drive or work. :mad:[/QUOTE]

:rolleyes:
I guess I better park my Jeeps, quit my profession, turn in my shootin irons, and sign up for disability... better yet, move out west, and get me one of those :greensmok prescriptions.

red91

January 27th, 2005, 15:48

I guess I better park my Jeeps, quit my profession, turn in my shootin irons, and sign up for disability... better yet, move out west, and get me one of those :greensmok prescriptions.

The NWC in Oregon can assist you in your :greensmok: Prescription.
I hear you can come by them pretty easy.

BajaXJ92

January 27th, 2005, 15:50

... better yet, move out west, and get me one of those :greensmok prescriptions.

Prospective Hereditary Glaucoma?

:greensmok

copperhead

January 27th, 2005, 17:17

Why can't suicidal people just get it over with and blow their heads off, take pills, or something that doesn’t endanger others. If you’re gonna kill yourself, do it alone, and at least have the balls to see it through. Sorry if I sound callous, but my father was in an accident and could have been killed by a woman who committed suicide by aiming her vehicle at his.

Copperhead

biscuitboy87

January 27th, 2005, 17:44

i take the commuter train once in awhile and always wonder about the safety because tracks are at road level and theres a crossing about every mile...
the train has hit alot of cars in the past years, but never derailed...so i doubt it was just the truck that derailed the train, but other factors contributing to the mishap. however, the suicidal maniac should be charged with murder in the same way a drunk driver does.
i saw the train hit a grocery cart once and it was over for the cart in about one second...pieces of it everywhere.

getting medical maryjane is not as easy as it seems to the rest of the country, but with doctors who want to make a quick buck it is becoming more common. before you go out and get your Rx you might want to do a little research because the med maryjane goes into your medical file forever! and your health company may deny benefits because even though states are legalizing, it is still illegal at the fed level...so think about it...weed or health coverage?
then again what people do in their own home is their own business.
personally i dont think mind expansion is for me, but i also dont think it should be a crime.

Captain Ron

January 27th, 2005, 22:05

i take the commuter train once in awhile and always wonder about the safety ...

What, take the fun out of doing 60 with no seatbelts?
That would just leave us with school buses...

--ron

bchulett

January 27th, 2005, 23:24

JohnJohn

January 28th, 2005, 05:27

I bet wishes he had stayed in the car now.

TRNDRVR

January 28th, 2005, 06:04

Murder with special circumstances ... and possibly the death penalty.

Some legal analyst claims there's a law on the books here in California that specifically covers causing injury or death via use of train derailments---allows the use of special circumstances.

I think it's a stretch ... BUT

They're also claiming there may be a potential problem prosecuting this case because law enforcement (probably that idiot Baca) publically called the man a "deranged individual" while being interviewed on camera ... which leaves the prosecutor in a quandary.

We'll see where this goes ... if he had drugs in his system that may change the strategy.

I think I'm due for jury service ... Murder charges for suspect in train crash

(The Associated Press circulated the following story by Robert Jablon on January 27.) Link to complete story (http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=12591)

"Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said prosecutors filed charges late Wednesday for 10 counts of murder with "special circumstances" of committing murder through a train derailment. Cooley stressed however that the case were still being evaulated. Under state law, special circumstances allegations could make a defendant eligible for the death penalty".

I'm sure there are lots a CA. laws that were broken, but when you mess with the railroad, it's a FEDERAL offense. I’m curious who's going to pursue it, the state or the feds?

Lawn Cher'

January 28th, 2005, 07:11

Or even worst... it wasn't "rail rated"....

I know... that was bad.... :gag:

I enjoyed it.

Lawn Cher'

January 28th, 2005, 07:14

What, take the fun out of doing 60 with no seatbelts?
That would just leave us with school buses...

--ron

and bass boats

Yucca-Man

January 28th, 2005, 14:32

They're also claiming there may be a potential problem prosecuting this case because law enforcement (probably that idiot Baca) publically called the man a "deranged individual" while being interviewed on camera ... which leaves the prosecutor in a quandary.That's 'cuz the PAO knows you can't call him a "F***'n a*****e" and get it on TV.