Los Angeles, California, June 29, 2007 - According to the signal data when the accident occurred, the IC 1013 North, which was the northbound freight train, continued to run and went past a stop or red signal sign at the North Anding. Consequently, it collided with the train going south, which is the IC 1023 South. The collision happened beyond the signal at ¼ mile.

The collision caused 17 cars and 6 locomotives’ derailment. Since almost 15,000 gallons diesel fuel was emitted from these locomotives, a fire broke out and burned for almost 15 hours.

As for victims, each train contains two crewmembers and all of them were killed during the accident. In an additional precautionary method, 100 residents of Anding were evacuated away from the venue of the accident. However, no one reported injuries.

Damages in property went over $9.5 million and the costs it entails for clearing up and cleaning the environment around the location of the collision reached to $616, 800.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the cause of the collision is probably the failure of the northbound train’s crewmembers to comply with the signals wayside, which required them to make a stop at the North Anding.

There is also a large possibility that they have missed the signal because of fatigue. In addition, other factors cannot be ruled out because of the absence of a cab voice recorder in the locomotive and other supporting evidences. There was also an absence of a system for positive train controls, which would have made the northbound train to stop before it even, exceeded from the authorized area of limits.

Another thing that contributed to the collision was the absence of an alerter for the lead locomotive. This could have prompted crewmembers to become more attentive in their train operations.