Metrolink Engineer Previously Warned About Cell Phone Use

The Metrolink engineer who had been text messaging seconds before a tragic train accident late last year, had been repeated warned about cell phone use while on the job, according to a supervisor testifying at an NTSB hearing on the accident Tuesday.

The two-day NTSB hearing will attempt to glean more information about the tragedy, although a final report is not expected for months. The accident, in which 25 people died, including the engineer, Martin Sanchez, 46, was the deadliest in the nation in 15 years. 135 people were also injured.

Already much new information about the crash, which to this point has been attributed to the cell phone and text messaging use by Sanchez has emerged at the hearing.

• Sanchez had been warned twice about on-the-job cell phone use.

• The conductor of the Union Pacific freight train which was struck by the Metrolink train had also been text messaging, sending his last message about a minute before impact. At the same time, testing done on the conductor showed evidence of marijuana use.

• A review of text messages between Sanchez and group of young train enthusiasts, who first brought the text messaging to light, showed that he had taken people on unauthorized ride-alongs and planned to take one of them with him on the day of the accident.

• Not only had Sanchez planned to take his closest "rail fan" along with him on Sept. 12th, the day of the accident, he had planned to let him take the controls between four stations, while he (Sanchez) handled radio communications.

Excerpts of the text message communications between Sanchez and his friend were released at the hearing. The following includes all the grammar and spelling errors, by the way.

September 8th:

Sanchez: I'm REALLY looking forward to getting you in the cab and showing you how to run a locomotive

Teen: (Oh my god) dude me too. Running a locomotive. Having all of that in the palms of my hands. Its a great feeling. And ill do it so good from all my practice on the simulator.

Sanchez: heh heh heh ... you'll see how easy it is to run a passenger train. freight ... well that's a bit tougher to run

Sanchez: I know you can't wait. because I remember the 1st time I climbed up the ladder on a locomotive

Sanchez: I'm gonna do all the radio talkin'... ur gonna run the locomotive & I'm gonna tell u how to do it.

September. 11

Teen: Alright. So im getting real pumped up for tomorrow. But outa camarillo were good to montalvio?

Sanchez: yea ... i'll take it out of the depot for a bit then u'll have it.

Teen: Ok. So ill have it moorpark to just outside of camarillo and just outside camarillo to montalvio?

Sanchez: yea

Teen: Ok man. Sounds good. Getting butterflies.

Teen: I also just wanted to thank you with such a great opportunity. Never in a million years did i imagine i was gonna do what im gonna do tomorrow. Thank you so much.

Sanchez: no prob. just glad i could give u that chance.

September 12 (day of the accident):

Teen: So today is the big day

Teen: I just cant believe that its today. Ive been waitin' and now its here. So happy

Sanchez: don't forget ... in 9 hours & 53 mins...u'll be running 862 to montalvo. heh heh heh