The three-train crash happened in the early-morning hours of Jan. 26, 2005, when Juan Manuel Alvarez parked his Jeep Grand Cherokee in the train’s path.
The Metrolink 100 train, traveling south from Moorpark to Union Station on the middle of three tracks, smashed into the Cherokee at 6:02 a.m., derailing the first car of the train.
The derailed cab car jumped off the tracks and smashed into a parked Union Pacific train on the west track, knocking it into the parking lot of a Costco store. The remaining cars of the commuter train bounced east into a passing northbound train, the Metrolink 901.
Eleven passengers were killed, and nearly 200 others were injured in the crash, the worst in Metrolink’s history.
Alvarez is standing trial for murder, and prosecutors have said they intend to press for the death penalty. Meanwhile, families have sought damages from Alvarez and Metrolink.
The court’s decision on Tuesday does not end the civil litigation, since other claims of negligence are still pending.
Man convicted for taxicab robberies
A Burbank Superior Court jury on Tuesday convicted Glendale resident Adrian Escajeda, 31, whom police had dubbed the “Taxi Cab Bandit,” of four counts of robbery in May 2007.
Escajeda picked up the cabs in Glendale and had the drivers take him into Los Angeles, where he demanded money.
He stole about $1,200 total in the four robberies, Glendale Police Det. Jeff Newton said.
Escajeda was convicted of one count of second-degree robbery for stealing from an individual on the street and three counts of first-degree robbery for holding up three taxicab drivers at gunpoint in May 2007.
Police found Escajeda in part because of his cell phone, which he used to order each of the taxis, Newton said.
The Glendale and the Los Angeles police departments worked together on the case.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12 in Burbank Superior Court.
Arraignment delayed to 25th
The arraignment for Grigor Grigoryan, the 39-year-old Glendale man who has been charged in the slaying of Glendale resident Yvette Hakopian, 35, was on continued to June 25.
Hakopian’s mother reportedly found her on the floor of her home in the 600 block of West Stocker Street on Friday afternoon. She died from strangulation, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
Grigoryan, who police say was Hakopian’s boyfriend, was arrested Friday night in Hollywood after he fled from police when officers tried to pull him over.
He has been charged with murder, felony evading, assault with a deadly weapon on a Los Angeles police officer and hit and run, Glendale Police Officer John Balian said.
His bail was set at $1.24 million.
