Brittany Yearout
News Editor
The loss and injuries from the catastrophic collision of a Metrolink commuter train and Union Pacific Freight train on Friday shocked the nation and heavily impacted members of the Pepperdine Community.
Among the 25 people who died was Pepperdine alum Walt Fuller (see accompanying story.) Furthermore, 135 people were injured including: Judge Vincent Zurzolo, the husband of Pepperdine’s instructor of computer graphics Dana Zurzolo; 2006 Pepperdine graduate Darren Aiello; and 1975 Pepperdine graduate Steve Burch, whose daughter, Sarah Burch, is a senior at Pepperdine.
The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled out mechanical, track and train problems, adding that the cause of the crash was human error, according to the Los Angeles Times. Investigators said the engineer’s failure to stop at a red light signal caused the crash.
However, the reason the engineer did not press the brakes is unknown, and NTSB has subpoenaed the engineer’s cell phone records to find out if he was texting before the crash, according to the Associated Press.
These potential causes for the crash upset Sarah Burch.
“Gross negligence either on his part of texting or falling asleep is a bad thing,” Sarah said. “But to have a system based on just one red light? And, if one person misses one red light, to have 25 people die? That’s inexcusable. I am not p—ed at the engineer, but [instead at] the people who created the system.”
Sarah said that because of the crash her father has a broken clavicle and broken ribs.
However, he is one of the lucky ones who survived, and strangely enough it was falling off a mountain that saved his life. Two weeks before the train accident, Steve was climbing down Mt. Whitney and fell from one path of the switchback to the next. He sliced open his hand and shattered his kneecap into four pieces.
Steve, who teaches in the Los Angeles Unified School District, normally drives to the train station and sits in the front of the train; but because of his climbing injuries he took the bus, which dropped him off at the back of the train. The back of the train received the least impact in the crash.
“Pretty much because he fell off of the mountain is why he survived the train crash,” Sarah said. “I really lucked out. My father is alive, and I am so happy … He is home now, but in a lot of pain.”
The Graphic could not interview Aiello before going to press. According to Keith Whitney, associate professor of business and law, he has broken bones and experienced other difficulties in surgery at Cedars Sinai Hospital.
Vincent Zurzolo is resting and recuperating at home.
09-18-2008