(The following story by Kevin Modesti appeared on the Daily Breeze website on September 12, 2009.)
TORRANCE, Calif. — Civic and religious leaders dedicated a memorial to victims of the Chatsworth Metrolink crash in a ceremony Saturday that Simi Valley Mayor Paul Miller called “a moment of healing.”
“The disaster one year ago struck at the heart of our community,” Miller told a crowd of about 400, including relatives of victims of the crash. “It is fitting this memorial be placed at the Simi Valley station, which was the next stop for Metrolink train 111.”
Miller said 10 Simi Valley residents were among the 25 people killed in the Sept. 12, 2008, collision between a Metrolink train and a Union Pacific freight train.
Another 135 people were injured.
The stylish Metrolink Memorial Plaza – at the east end of the Simi Valley rail platform – includes individual plaques bearing the name of each person who died in the crash, and messages suggested by their families. Some of the plaques had flowers and photos on them Saturday.
But the plaque representing Metrolink engineer Robert M. Sanchez bears a simple cross – not his name.
Sanchez is believed to have ignored a stop signal shortly before the crash because he was exchanging text messages with young rail enthusiasts.
Simi Valley assistant city manager Laura Behjan said in an interview that Sanchez’s family requested the cross. “It’s kind of a touchy situation,” Behjan said.
Sanchez’s name was included in a solemn reading of the victims’ names by Los Angeles police chaplain Steve Hillman. Sanchez’s mention drew raised eyebrows in the audience and infuriated at least one listener.
“His name should not have been part of this,” said Jennifer Akers, a Simi Valley resident who said her husband, Robin, was injured in the crash. “He caused all this devastation.
“I’m sorry for his family. But this is for the victims, and he’s not a victim.”
The acknowledgment of Sanchez did not bother Claudia Souser, a Camarillo resident whose husband, Doyle, died in the crash.
“We’re all human. He (Sanchez) lost his life,” Souser said. “I’m actually glad they mentioned his name. I think it’s important.”
The memorial plaza was paid for with city funds and private donations. A plaque at the entrance calls for “reverent memory” of the dead, “hope and encouragement” for survivors, and “gratitude” to emergency crews.
Souser called the plaza “beautiful and touching.”
“I can see coming here and remembering my husband,” Souser said. “He’s buried in Colorado, and we really haven’t had anywhere to go.”
The Simi Valley memorial dedication was among three events marking the anniversary of the late-afternoon collision, which occurred shortly after the Metrolink commuter train left the Chatsworth station on its way to Simi Valley.
City Councilman Greig Smith and other Los Angeles leaders attended a ceremony Saturday morning at Stoney Point Park in Chatsworth to unveil a memorial plaque honoring those killed in the deadliest commuter rail accident in California history.
On Friday, Chatsworth Hills Academy hosted a tree-planting and ceremony to honor the emergency crews – as well as staffers of the private school and neighborhood residents – who helped to rescue and comfort crash victims.