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CNN Live At Daybreak

In California, Investigators Trying to Determine Whether Track Signal Malfunctioned

Aired April 24, 2002 - 05:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In California this morning, investigators are trying to determine whether a track signal malfunctioned, leading one train to crash into another. At least two people were killed in the rush hour horror in Placentia.

Our Anne McDermott has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE MCDERMOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A mile long freight train collided with a small commuter train in Placentia, California this morning, throwing passengers around the cars.

ROBERTO ALMEIDA, PASSENGER: It was just a loud crash, you know? I'd never heard anything like it before.

MCDERMOTT: This local resident saw it all.

JACKIE BISESI, EYEWITNESS: I started screaming oh, my god, they're on the same track, they're going to hit, they're going to hit. Then right when I got there they hit and the force of the hit threw me backwards.

MCDERMOTT: Besides the dead, there were dozens of people injured seriously enough to go to the hospital and at least 100 others on the metro link train were classified as walking wounded.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was pregnant?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MCDERMOTT: Pregnant but OK, she said.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm fine.

MCDERMOTT: And these women were simply shaken.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you? Are you OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I'm fine, thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're all right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm fine.

MCDERMOTT: As dazed passengers waited while some 30 ambulances pulled up at the scene, investigators were trying to figure out what happened. An NTSB team member said as they do at plane crashes, they'll look at the so-called black boxes.

TED TURPIN, NTSB: OK, a black box from an engine would show the speed, would show the position of the throttle, would show the position of the brakes.

MCDERMOTT: And maybe show a bit of the horror of a sunny morning rush hour gone terribly wrong.

Anne McDermott, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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