An engineer deliberately ran a train off the tracks at high speed near the Port of Los Angeles in an attempt to crash into the USNS Mercy hospital ship, prosecutors say.
The Pacific Harbor Line train derailed Tuesday, running through the end of the track and crashing through barriers, finally coming to rest about 250 yards from the docked naval ship.
Federal prosecutors allege train engineer Eduardo Moreno, 44, of San Pedro intended to hit the ship, saying he thought it was “suspicious” and did not believe “the ship is what they say it’s for.'”
The train crashed into a concrete barrier at the end of the track, smashed through a steel barrier and a chain-link fence, slid through one parking lot and then a second lot filled with gravel and hit a second chain-link fence. It came to rest after passing under a ramp leading to the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The train remained in that position Wednesday.
No one was injured in the derailment, but the train leaked fuel that required a hazmat response.
Trump calls Democrat he pardoned a ‘loser’ for not switching parties
FIRST ON FOX: FBI targets Ghana scam compound linked to nearly $10M in losses, more than 130 detained
El-Sayed’s scathing Obama critique resurfaces ahead of joint campaign rally
Marine Corps Osprey catches fire during exercise in North Carolina; 4 injured
Rubio criticizes media for demanding comment on Guilfoyle report: ‘It’s not the gospel’
‘Demon,’ ‘Bigot,’ ‘Satan Spawn’: Duchess Meghan’s Fans Rabidly Attack Priest for Offering up $8 Version of Her $150 Advent Calendar
‘Cornell 7’ Figure Fights Back Against ‘Improper’ Appointment of Letitia James with Court Move
Ken Paxton touts ‘missing Talarico’ flyers across Texas
‘Annie Trannie Andrews’ and ‘Mohammed el Sayed’: Trump goes scorched-earth on Democrats. Will it backfire?
Nicolas Maduro and wife Cilia Flores face new charge of conspiracy to torture Americans
Dem House hopeful alleges she was brutally attacked during 2 am campaign errand
Fox News President Issues Defiant Response to Trump’s Criticism: ‘It’s What We Do’
Andrews says she doesn’t support gender surgeries for minors after previously advocating against a ban
Russia denies another plague case as WHO presses for more information
Taxpayer-funded autism giant faces scrutiny over abuse cases and billing as Trump targets healthcare fraud
Authorities say Moreno admitted to crashing the train intentionally, but said he did not plan it out in advance. It is believed that he acted alone.
He allegedly made statements to a CHP officer that included “You only get this chance once. The whole world is watching. I had to. People don’t know what’s going on here. Now they will.”
Officials say video from inside the train’s cab shows Moreno holding a lighted flare during the incident.
Moreno has been charged with one count of train wrecking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
The Mercy arrived at the Port of Los Angeles this weekend.
The Navy hospital ship was brought in to handle non-coronavirus patients, to help ease the burden of local hospitals that are surging with COVID-19 cases.
The ship has about 1,000 hospital beds, with some 800 active-duty doctors, nurses and medical staff on board. It is expected to stay in Los Angeles at least until September or until it is no longer needed.
Story cited here.
