Sep 15, 2008 4:56 pm US/Pacific
Official To Ask For Text Ban While Driving Train
CHATSWORTH (CBS) ―
-
-
The text message sent by the engineer to one of a group of teen train enthusiasts.
CBS
Responding to an exclusive report by CBS 2 Saturday that suggested the engineer in the deadly Metrolink train crash had just sent a text message, the president of the California Public Utilities Commission Monday said he will ask for a ban on texting while driving a train.
President Michael R. Peevy said, "I will ask my fellow commissioners on Thursday to approve an emergency order prohibiting the personal use of cellular communications devices while operating a freight or passenger train anywhere in California."
He added, "Some railroad operators may [already] have policies prohibiting the personal use of such devices, but they're widely ignored."
Peevy said to strengthen the ordinance "We will make it the law, and we'll go after violators. We owe it to the public."
A 15-year-old train enthusiast told CBS2's Kristine Lazar that he received a cell phone text message from the Metrolink train engineer about a minute before the crash.
The engineer, Robert Martin Sanchez, 46, of Crestline, died in the wreck.
Metrolink CEO David Solow told KCAL9 that engineers are not allowed to
have cell phones "within their grasp."
KCAL9 showed the text messages that Sanchez allegedly sent in the
moments leading up to the crash, which killed at least 25 people and left more than 45 more critically or seriously injured.
"Yea ... usually @ north Camarillo," was the message from a person identified on the phone as "Rob Sanchez Metro," according to KCAL.
The message appeared to be sent at 4:22 p.m. Friday.
Metrolink's Ventura County Line train No. 111 crashed into a Union Pacific freight train shortly before 4:23 p.m. that day on a curving section of track south of the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway and east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, authorities said.
On Saturday, a Metrolink spokeswoman took the unusual step of saying the agency was responsible for the crash because the engineer ran a red light.
However, the NTSB and a union representing railroad employees said it was premature to form conclusions about the cause of the crash especially during an on-going investigation.
Early this morning, the spokeswoman -- Denise Tyrrell -- resigned.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
SLIDESHOW: Metrolink Crash
SLIDESHOW: Metrolink, Freight Train Derailment
CBS News Interactive: Train Disasters
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments