| Juan Manuel Álvarez | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979-02-26 |
| Motive | Suicide |
| Charge(s) | Train wrecking, capital murder |
| Conviction(s) | 2008-06-26 |
| Penalty | 11 life sentences (consecutive) |
| Status | Incarcerated |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Spouse | Sra. Álvarez |
| Children | 2 |
Juan Manuel Álvarez (born February 26, 1979), a laborer from Compton, California, is a Californian convicted of causing the January 26, 2005, Glendale train crash, a collision between a passenger train, another passenger train, a freight train, and a car in Glendale, California (a suburb of Los Angeles). He parked his gasoline-soaked sport-utility vehicle on the tracks and waited for a southbound Metrolink commuter train. At the approach of the train, allegedly unable to move his vehicle from the tracks, he exited, apparently abandoning a suicide attempt, and observed the train colliding with his SUV (causing the train to derail) from a safe distance. The derailed train then hit a Union Pacific Railroad freight train parked on a siding, as well as a northbound Metrolink train on the third track. The collision left 11 people dead and nearly 200 injured.
Alvarez was allegedly suicidal long before the incident occurred. According to some reports, he had attempted suicide previously. In addition, he was a known methamphetamine addict, prone to delusional behavior. At the time of the train crash, Alvarez, the father of two young children, was experiencing marital difficulties.
Police initially believed that Alvarez decided to kill himself that day, but that he changed his mind immediately before the train hit his vehicle, jumping out of the car and observing as the collision took place. He was charged with, and subsequently convicted of, 11 counts of murder with "special circumstances". Police say following investigations indicate Alvarez may have intended to cause the crash without committing suicide. Authorities filed additional charges against him for murder with intent.[1]
Prosecutors sought the death penalty for his crimes under a seldom-used law making train wrecking, causing a person's death, a capital offense.[2] This 1873[3] law was created to prosecute Old West train robbers who were known to blow up the tracks to rob a train.[4]
On June 26, 2008, Alvarez was found guilty of 11 counts of first degree murder with special circumstances and one count of arson related to the incident. He was acquitted of the train wrecking charge.[5]
On July 7, 2008, the hearing for sentencing for Juan Manuel Álvarez started.
On July 15, 2008, the jury recommended a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
On August 20, 2008, Alvarez was sentenced to 11 consecutive life sentences.