A sad sad weekend in Los Angeles and Ventura where a head-on crash on Friday between a commuter train and a freight train killed 26 people and injured over 100 more. Many of the passengers were on their way home to Ventura.
Watching the interviews with family members and fellow train riders is so heart wrenching. This accident is the worst train wreck in modern California history.
All of these photos came from online newspapers
I heard this afternoon on the news, of one couple who were returning from his mother's funeral when the crash occured. She survived, but he was thrown into the stairwell and sustained massive head injuries and died on the scene.
And there is story after story just like that one.
Then there are all the offerings left on the tracks. It seemed right to leave something here on the blog.
Very sad news...We're not getting all of the covereage and stories down here (4:52pm; 79 degrees). When I saw the initial crash, I just felt in my heart that there would be very bad news on the way..so sad. And to start to read reports of what the conductor may have been doing just prior to the accident...
Posted by: Julie Prichard | Monday, September 15, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Sometimes regular life is just too, too much. It's so arbitrary and unfair. People just going about their business. Huge sigh. But we do carry on...
Posted by: Lorraine | Monday, September 15, 2008 at 05:31 PM
There is a Buddhist meditation that states in part "I may die today...". It is not meant to be morbid or negative but a reminder to live as positively and mindfully as possible. This, of course, is not meant as consolation but reminder. Events such as this as so much more poignant when they happen so close by. How tender is the response of all. Everywhere around us we have opportunities for great compassion. I can see that this weighs upon you.
Posted by: susan w | Monday, September 15, 2008 at 06:08 PM
I'm so sorry to see this. I haven't turned on the TV or read Headline News in days - I had no idea this happened.
Posted by: Jamie | Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 06:51 AM
I was a train commuter to New York City for seven years and my heart goes out to everyone involved in this terrible accident. To have the mundanity of an everyday routine torn apart this way is so shocking. We aren't getting as much coverage in the East. Thank you for this, Mary Ann.
Posted by: JeriAnn | Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 07:41 AM
You know how to honor.
Thank you.
profound sadness.
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 10:30 AM
such a powerful tribute to this terrible crash . to think it could have been prevented if proper technology had been purchased and implemented long ago
Love * Prayers to everyone who has been affected by this
Posted by: marybeth | Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 10:05 PM
I am so sorry to hear about this. Such a sad loss of life.
Posted by: Sandy | Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Life seems so solid.
And yet.
"Powerful tribute" -- indeed.
Posted by: Vicki in Michigan | Friday, September 19, 2008 at 07:01 AM
It was such awful news...I was on the couch during a day of stomach virus feeling awful-'losing cookies' ect!, but I knew that fellow people were having a worse time than I was... what an awful thing to happen :(
Posted by: PJ | Friday, September 19, 2008 at 11:52 AM
m.a. Did not even hear about this, as all our news coverage has been on Ike. In fact, I have news overload, and have not read a single newspaper line this week.
I am so, so sorry for the families...
Posted by: diane cook | Friday, September 19, 2008 at 08:45 PM