On LA-area radio and TV news (KNX, KTLA): The Glendale police now believe that Mr. Alvarez (the guy with the Jeep Cherokee) deliberately drove his vehicle onto the tracks, and then doused the exterior and interior with gasoline. The police are speculating that he did this with the intent of causing an explosion that would attract the attention of his estranged wife. Mr. Alvarez’s lawyer is called the police department’s comments a distortion of the facts.
Talk about a hot-button issue…
Is the guy anti-rail?
Well, it certainly got her attention all right… along with the attention of 11 other families that are greiving 
Certainly not - obviously it’s a valuable tool in his toolbox.
Can’t help but respond with a couple of people observations here.
Cops love to talk to the press, especially if it’s positive and gets their picture (and their name spelled correctly) on the front page…or the six o’clock news. This tends to irritate the higher up muckety mucks who would rather the press focus on them… because they have a whole host of coaches, advisors, and lawyers who tell them what they can or can’t say.
Suicides are pretty much the most self centered people in the world, so the motive that the defendant alledgedly had for driving onto the tracks in the path of an oncoming train to gain attention is not all that far fetched. A defense lawyer sure will scream at that kind of supposition; because it is a clear and decisive indicator of premeditation. This guy wasn’t the victim of a simple grade crossing accident; he planned to get hit by a train.
Around my department, we all have to admit that LA County is showing admirable restraint… if two of our deputies died going to work because of the actions of a single bozo, we would have to exercise a great deal of professional behavior and patience. We would hope for a quick and fair trial… followed by an equally quick hanging. But hey, that’s just talk around the deputy’s workroom.
Erik
PS. A really smart lawyer would say that the defendant was a railfan trying to get a picture…
Erik-
This guy is like a lot of others - we need to give him a fair trial, then immediately take him out behind the courthouse and hang him.