Mayor: At Least 10 Killed In Metrolink Crash

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Friday night that "at least 10" people were killed -- and scores injured, as many as 47 critically -- when a Metrolink commuter train crashed into a freight train in Chatsworth before the evening rush hour.One of the confirmed dead is a Los Angeles Police Department officer, according to LAPD Media Relations. The officer's name was not released.Reporting overhead in Sky 9, Gary Lineberry said it was a "real mess. And it's a bad one...no doubt about that."The freight train looked accordioned. Several cars on the freight train derailed. Several cars of the commuter train overturned. Tim Lynn reporting overhead in Chopper 2 said the crash was "head on." He added, "We saw people crawling out of the train trying to escape flames. The fire department immediately got into rescue mode."Just looking at the aftermath Lynn said, "this crash had to be horrific."A Metrolink spokeswoman confirmed at least seven people were killed as of 7:30 p.m. Lineberry said police sources were confirming casualties are expected to mount.Later in the evening, a somber Mayor addressed reporters and said the rescue effort had turned into a recovery effort and that "at least 15 people" were dead. Also, officials called in cadaver dogs to look for more victims.The crash occured near Topanga Boulevard about 4:40 p.m.The most serious injuries are believed to be in the front car of the Metrolink train. Some people were believed trapped. Rescue teams were on hand to extricate at least three people from the overturned cars, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.The Los Angeles Police Department called a citywide tactical alert in response to the crash.Metrolink says the train had 350 passengers. Fire crews think that there might be some bodies trapped underneath some of the overturned cars, debris and rubble.They have requested heavy machinery to move the wreckage.Lineberry reporting over the triage area said responders were separating the wounded and injured by color-coded blankets: the most serious injuries were put on red blankets, serious -- but not critical -- injuries were given yellow blankets, and wounded people who did not require immediate attention were put on green blankets. (© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)