There are many reasons that people in large metropolitan areas choose to use mass transit to get to and from their jobs on a daily basis. While some of the reasons are obvious, others may not be to those who do not live in these areas. Fuel costs continue to rise. Freeways in large cities tend to be extremely crowded and many have descended into daily gridlock. Time is wasted. Money is wasted while fuel burns in a parked position. Stress rises. Productivity falls and job satisfaction and even psychological balance can be affected long-term.
This is particularly true in an area like Los Angeles, a city and surrounding area that’s long been notorious for its crowded freeways, its stressful rush hours and its dissatisfied drivers who must live far away from their jobs in order to afford their lifestyles. As such, recent years have shown an increased popularity with alternative forms of transportation.
One of those alternatives in Los Angeles is the Metrolink train, which runs several routes throughout Los Angeles County to and from residential and commercially-driven areas. The Metrolink presents a way to avoid the expense, stress and time and fuel wasted while attempting to navigate overcrowded freeways.
Tragedy Strikes the Metrolink Line.
However, there are also reasons that people choose not to use an alternative such as Metrolink, and these reasons include a lack of convenience, a simple desire to drive their vehicles and of course the possibility for a crash, as everyone has seen news of train accidents that leave a wake of destruction.
Tragically, the worst case scenario came to pass near Chatsworth in Los Angeles County on Friday afternoon, as a Metrolink train collided head-on with an oncoming freight train, and the initial results were utterly disastrous. The Metrolink was carrying 222 passengers at the time of the crash, and as of this writing, 25 people have been killed. What’s even worse is that number could rise, as of the 135 additional people who were listed as injured, 81 of them were described as ‘critical’ in terms of their medical condition and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Local, state and federal officials are investigating the situation, and as of now no definitive cause for this tragedy has been identified. Several different potential causes have been discussed, such as engineer error, mechanical error and other possibilities, but no timetable for a formulation of a conclusion has been offered by those conducting the investigation.
If you or someone you love has been involved in this accident, you need to be sure to obtain immediate medical attention, even if you are not currently feeling any physical effects from the collision. Certain injuries are not immediately detectable in those who have been through this sort of situation. You should also schedule a free initial consultation with an accident attorney, as you may need to be aware of your legal rights and options depending on the results of certain factors.
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