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September 18, 2008

Engineer of Metrolink Train Had Troubled Past

The engineer of the Los Angeles-area commuter train that crashed into a freight train Friday -- killing 25 people and injuring 135 others -- was a gay man with a bit of a troubled past. Robert M. Sanchez, who had been working for Metrolink since 2005, is believed to have failed to stop at a signal near the San Fernando Valley district of Chatsworth, causing his train to collide with a Union Pacific freight train. The engineer was among those who died in the crash.

The Times reports that Sanchez moved to Southern California in 2000 with his life partner, Daniel Charles Burton. Three years later, on February 14, Burton hanged himself in the garage of the couple’s home, leaving the following note: “Rob, Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you. Please take care of yourself and Ignatia [the couple’s dog]. I love you both very much. Daniel.” A coroner later reported that Burton was HIV-positive, and Sanchez said that just before the suicide he and Burton had discussed breaking up.

Following the suicide Sanchez ran into a little trouble with the law -- he served 90 days in jail in connection with an attempted-shoplifting incident at Costco -- but primarily lived a quiet life, raising and breeding Italian greyhound dogs.

“He talked about Daniel and said they had bought the house together,” fellow greyhound breeder and friend Lilian Barber, 77, told the Times, adding that he never told her that Burton had died. “He was so alive and always up. I’ve never met anyone so up. That’s why it’s so difficult to imagine that Rob is dead.” (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: Jim Smith
Date posted: 2008-09-18 6:31 PM
Hometown: Long Beach, CA

Comment:

I agree that the tickler link on the front page is inappropriate because it sensationalizes the story. The headline over the article is fine. I don't think that the article represents the level of journalism that I expect from Advocate, but it's okay. Though it should have been handled much more competently, I would rather get the information from Advocate than from some less sympathetic source. The fact that he was gay is relevant because it's been reported and will be a talking point. Knowing his background prepares me for having an informed discussion with friends and co-workers, as well as the bigots and homophobes.

Name: LKitsch
Date posted: 2008-09-18 5:20 PM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:

The engineer's gayness had nothing to do with the story about the tragic train crash. There are more relevant issues, such as the commuter line's lousy safety record. Concurrently, the gayness of the Los Angeles Police officer who died in the crash is similarly irrelevant. The officer was sitting in the badly damaged first car. Her life partner, also an LAPD officer, was one of the first responders at the crash site, and therefore saw her body being removed from the wreckage. But the fact that two of the principal "players" in this sad event were openly gay is of interest to me, perhaps just because it is a bizarre coincidence, but also because it illustrates a very important point that all of us should remember---especially as Californian's prepare to decide whether gay people are entitled to the same marriage rights as everyone else. That point is that we are everywhere---and sometimes, tragically, we are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Name: Lee Matthews
Date posted: 2008-09-17 6:33 PM
Hometown: St Kilda Australia

Comment:

I reluctantly clicked on the link of this article because i was worried that the headline identified a totally unecessary article...and i was right! His sexuality has nothing to do with the incident what so ever. The article should have focused on how unecessary it was for other medias to report on his sexuality in the first place. If any journalist wanted to play on the fact that his partner committed suicide...because of the impact that has on a person and his possible state of mind during the crash, then simply referring to "his partner" enough. Stating a male name would have helped explain that he was gay without being sensational. An overall very disappointing article...especially from the Advocate. Please don't go down that journalistic railroad (pardon the pun!). Lee

Name: Scott K
Date posted: 2008-09-17 5:31 PM
Hometown: Riverview, FL

Comment:

Thanks, Advocate. As if we aren't already ostrisized for being human beings, now this article is throwing an even darker shadow on us a people. Of all publications (online or print) that is more or less the legitimate mouthpiece for LGBT persons, this story is just about as a battleflag for the right. It sounds like a Jerry Falwell tale "Katrina/tsunami/earthquake etc. is because of the gays" The editor made such poor judgement, I hope it isn't in the print edition. I'm sorry, Mr. Sanchez, not only are you condemned by the families of the victims, now your personal life is open for the world to know. Even if you didn't want it to.

Name: WILLIAM
Date posted: 2008-09-17 4:56 PM
Hometown: SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Comment:

THE ENGINEER, OBAMA, BIDEN, MCCAIN AND PALIN ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEIR RACE, SEX OR SEXUAL PREFERENCE ARE. WE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON ISSUES LIKE SAFETY AND EQUAL RIGHTS THAT MATTER INSTEAD OF DIVISIVE IRRELEVANCIES. GAY, STRAIGHT, BISEXUAL AND TRANGER HUMAN BEINGS ARE EVERYWHERE. AFTER T. HAGGARD AND M. CHENEY EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW THIS. LETS MOVE ON AND MAINTAIN SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE SO OUR SECULAR GOVERNMENT CAN INITIATE RATIONAL, ENLIGHTENED PUBLIC POLICIES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE USA ECONOMY, END THE IRAQ WAR, REFORM OUR UNJUST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, CREATE NEW JOBS, AND RESORE OUR LEADERSHIP AMONG THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD.

Name: Mark
Date posted: 2008-09-17 2:33 PM
Hometown: Omaha

Comment:

Folks, you should go read the LA Times article. It was actually very well-written. It didn't use the word 'gay' in the headline, it didn't mention Sanchez's partner's name until paragraph six, and didn't use the word 'gay' until paragraph seven. In fact, the article barely mentions Sanchez's orientation at all, and spends a great deal more time on the comments of his friend Lilian Barber (who says that although he was "a bit different" he was always very upbeat and positive). Unfortunately, it is the Advocate that decided his sexual orientation deserved a headline. In my opinion, this article doesn't need to be in the Advocate at all - the treatment of this man's sexual orientation just isn't controversial at all.

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