“Train dispatchers work very much like air traffic controllers. They have a screen in front of them where they can see train traffic for miles around. That’s why this incident is such a puzzle and why it will be under investigation.”

-Sharon Gavin, Metrolink spokeswoman, AP 4/23/02

“I was thrown forward onto my knees with my face into the seat, and I was just confused. I just saw darkness and I didn’t know what happened.”

-Kim Bailey, Metrolink train accident passenger, AP 4/23/02

“I heard the horn. I saw the train coming toward it. I said, ‘Oh my God, it’s on the same track, it’s gonna hit, it’s gonna hit.’ We all started running forward.”

-Jackie Bissezie, nearby and witnessed the California train accident, AP 4/23/02

“The thing just shook my whole house. It sounded like an explosion. I knew it was something major. Nothing has ever shook the house but an earthquake. I came running over here. There was one guy moving around and now he’s covered up.”

-Bobby Parede, speaking of his home two blocks from the California train accident site, LA Times, 3/23/02

“Our train stopped and the next thing you know- boom! It hit.”

-Gene Ogelsby, passenger aboard the California train accident, AP 4/23/02

“There was silence and he (train engineer) was yelling, ‘Everybody get down, get down!’ I thought that maybe there was a bomb on board…Then all of a sudden we hit.”

-Jim Fleming, passenger aboard the California train accident, KCAL-TV L.A. 4/23/02

“I saw the train sitting, at a stop, and I saw the other train coming and they were on the same track. It sounded like a bomb and it felt like an earthquake. All the people getting off the train were bloodied and they were still trying to help each other. There were people who got on to the roof of the train and were trying to pull people out.”

-Jackie Bisesi, witnessed the California train accident, AP 4/23/02

“Most of the people were coming down from the second level and they were stepping over those who were hurt on the ground. Most of them were barely able to walk. It was pretty horrifying.”

-Dan Veenbaas, witness jumped on the train to help and found people lying on the floor and slammed against seats, AP 4/23/02