Juan Manuel Álvarez | Photos | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Juan Manuel ÁLVAREZ

Juan Manual Alvarez

Juan Manual Alvarez enters the courtroom, where Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William
R. Pounders tells him, "If there were a sentence 'forever,' I would certainly give it to you."
(Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times / August 20, 2008)

Juan Manual Alvarez

Juan Manuel Alvarez, 29, yawns after his conviction on 11 counts of first-degree murder
are read in court. He was convicted of causing a 2005 Metrolink rail disaster that
turned two commuter trains into a tangled mass of smoking wreckage littered
with victims.
(Bob Chamberlain / Los Angeles Times)

Eleven people died and at least 180 were injured as a result of the Jan. 26, 2005,
derailment of two Metrolink trains. The crash was triggered when one train hit
a Jeep Cherokee parked on the tracks by Juan Manuel Alvarez.
(Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times / January 26, 2005)

Investigators survey the crash scene in Glendale, where a southbound Metrolink commuter train
slammed into Alvarez's Jeep, which as parked on the tracks. The train derailed, struck a parked
Union Pacific freight train and then collided with a northbound Metrolink train.
(Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times / January 26, 2005)

The collision left a tangled mess of twisted steel and debris, including seat cushions,
bloody towels and luggage discarded by fleeing passengers.
(Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times / January 26, 2005)

A coroner's office investigator looks over the crash scene. During five days of testimony near the
start of the defense's presentation of its case, Alvarez apologized for causing the tragedy, and
asked for forgiveness from relatives of the victims. He told jurors that although he expected
to be punished, he was "not a murderer".
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times / January 26, 2005)

Officials examine the crash scene near Glendale.
(Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times / January 26, 2005)

A woman is whisked away by emergency personnel as she talks on a cellphone after the derailment.
(Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times / January 26, 2005)

A wheel and axle found at the site was thought to have been from the Jeep Cherokee
parked on the tracks that led to the crash.
(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times / January 26, 2005)

Authorities use search dogs to help locate victims in the wreckage.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times / January 26, 2005)