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SLIDESHOW: Metrolink Crash
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NTSB: Sanchez Sent Text 22 Seconds Before Crash

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Oct 1, 2008 12:52 pm US/Pacific

NTSB: Sanchez Sent Text 22 Seconds Before Crash

 SLIDESHOW: Metrolink, Freight Train Derailment

 CBS News Interactive: Train Disasters

LOS ANGELES The National Transportation Safety Board Wednesday confirmed a CBS 2 News exclusive report that Metrolink engineer Robert Sanchez sent a text message 22 seconds before the Chatsworth Metrolink crash that killed 25 people.

Information regarding the Sanchez's cell phone activity on the day of the accident was obtained from his service provider under subpoena from the NTSB.

Although the precise timing of cell phone activity and how it correlates with the Sept. 12 crash is still under investigation, preliminary information is being released regarding the approximate cell phone activity during the engineer's shift on the day of the accident.

Sanchez was responsible for the operation of a train from 6:44 a.m. until 8:53 a.m. on the day of the crash. During that time, the engineer's cell phone received 21 text messages and sent 24 text messages.

He was then off duty until 2 p.m. He was later responsible for the operation of Metrolink train 111 from 3:03 p.m. until the time of the accident. During this time period, the engineer's cell phone received seven text messages and sent five text messages. According to the time on the cell phone provider's records, the last text message received by the engineer's phone before the accident was at 4:21:03 p.m., and the last text message sent from the engineer's cell phone was 4:22:01 p.m.

A preliminary estimate for the time of the accident, according to the Union Pacific train's onboard recorders, is 4:22:23 pm.

"I am pleased with the progress of this major investigation to date," acting NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said Wednesday. "We are continuing to pursue many avenues of inquiry to find what caused this accident and what can be done to prevent such a tragedy in the future."

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.