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Deadly train crash in Los Angeles | Deadly train crash in Los Angeles |
(about 2 hours later) | |
At least 12 people have died and some 100 have been hurt in a head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train near Los Angeles. | |
The crash derailed both trains and forced the engine of the passenger train back into one of its coaches. | The crash derailed both trains and forced the engine of the passenger train back into one of its coaches. |
Fire-fighters put out a blaze under one of the carriages and have been cutting through metal to rescue trapped people. | Fire-fighters put out a blaze under one of the carriages and have been cutting through metal to rescue trapped people. |
The exact cause of the crash - believed to be one of the worst in Los Angeles' history - is not yet known. | The exact cause of the crash - believed to be one of the worst in Los Angeles' history - is not yet known. |
The crash happened at 1632 local time (2332 GMT) on Friday, at a time when the passenger train is thought to have been carrying more than 200 people, most of them commuters. | The crash happened at 1632 local time (2332 GMT) on Friday, at a time when the passenger train is thought to have been carrying more than 200 people, most of them commuters. |
The Metrolink passenger train was travelling from Los Angeles to Moorpark, north-west of the city, a spokeswoman said. | The Metrolink passenger train was travelling from Los Angeles to Moorpark, north-west of the city, a spokeswoman said. |
It collided with a Union Pacific freight train on a curving stretch of track in Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles county. | It collided with a Union Pacific freight train on a curving stretch of track in Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles county. |
'Total destruction' | 'Total destruction' |
The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, told reporters that between 10 and 15 people had died in the crash, with more than 50 injured. | The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, told reporters that between 10 and 15 people had died in the crash, with more than 50 injured. |
"That's probably the most serious trainwreck to occur here in a very long time," the AFP news agency reported him saying. | "That's probably the most serious trainwreck to occur here in a very long time," the AFP news agency reported him saying. |
I heard a loud crash and I saw black smoke... some people were mangled pretty bad Phil Thiele, Metrolink passenger | I heard a loud crash and I saw black smoke... some people were mangled pretty bad Phil Thiele, Metrolink passenger |
The front coach of the Metrolink passenger train derailed and was crushed by the engine after the collision. Two other coaches of the train remained upright. | The front coach of the Metrolink passenger train derailed and was crushed by the engine after the collision. Two other coaches of the train remained upright. |
Aerial images of the crash scene showed teams of rescuers using ladders to reach injured people inside the mangled front coach. | Aerial images of the crash scene showed teams of rescuers using ladders to reach injured people inside the mangled front coach. |
A number of casualties were treated near the scene, while some were airlifted to hospital. | A number of casualties were treated near the scene, while some were airlifted to hospital. |
There are fears that the death toll will rise further. | There are fears that the death toll will rise further. |
Los Angeles City Fire Captain John Virant described the scene as "total destruction". | Los Angeles City Fire Captain John Virant described the scene as "total destruction". |
"It was chaos. The injuries are crushing," he was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times newspaper. | "It was chaos. The injuries are crushing," he was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times newspaper. |
Capt Virant said firefighters were trying to cut through train carriages to rescue the injured. | Capt Virant said firefighters were trying to cut through train carriages to rescue the injured. |
"They are in there removing dead bodies that are lying on top of survivors," he said. | "They are in there removing dead bodies that are lying on top of survivors," he said. |
The Union Pacific freight train was badly damaged in the accident. Officials say two people - the engineer and the conductor - were on board the train. | The Union Pacific freight train was badly damaged in the accident. Officials say two people - the engineer and the conductor - were on board the train. |
"I heard a loud crash and I saw black smoke... some people were mangled pretty bad," Phil Thiele, one of the passengers in the front coach, told the Los Angeles Times. | "I heard a loud crash and I saw black smoke... some people were mangled pretty bad," Phil Thiele, one of the passengers in the front coach, told the Los Angeles Times. |
He said he tried to help one man who was pinned between seats: "I tried my damnedest to get him out but I just couldn't." | He said he tried to help one man who was pinned between seats: "I tried my damnedest to get him out but I just couldn't." |
Mr Thiele also said one woman appeared to have a serious head injury. | Mr Thiele also said one woman appeared to have a serious head injury. |