Daniel Akins, 22 and Anastasia Bolton,17 (Orange County Sheriff's Dept.) |
MISSION VIEJO -- The victims of a deadly Metrolink train crash in Santa Ana have been identified as 17 year old Anastasia Bolton and 22 year old Daniel Akins of Mission Viejo.
The sole survivor of the tragedy is identified as 27 year old Silvia Lua of Santa Ana, according to Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.
Botlon and Akins, who may have fallen asleep on the tracks, were killed early Thursday morning when they were struck by a Metrolink train. The accident was reported at 6:15 a.m. in the area of Alicia Pkwy. and Via Fabricante.
Lua, who suffered moderate injuries in the accident, says she and her friends met up up at a bar in Santa Ana Wednesday night. She says the three met there because it was close to her house, but denies they were drinking, Amormino said.
Lua called 911 to report that she had been struck by the train and "didn't know what happened to her friends," Amormino said.
Deputies searched the area and found the bodies of Bolton and Akins.
Their bodies were dragged about a quarter of a mile down the tracks, investigators say.
"The young people met up earlier in the evening, went to Laguna Beach and ended up at this popular 'hang out' spot," Amormino said.
Bolton and Lua met on Facebook last week and were planning to go to a friend's house in Mission Viejo to spend the night when they were hit by the train, Amormino said.
"We believe the victims may have fallen asleep on the tracks," Amormino said.
Lua told investigators she heard the train coming and was able to jump out of the way.
She suffered moderate injuries to her arm and leg and is hospitalized in stable condition.
Lua said the trio met at the bar, spent a few hours there, then drove to Laguna Beach where they walked along the beach and then headed to Mission Viejo.
They parked near a Starbucks but they fell asleep inside the car, Amormino said.
Amormino said Botlon got out of the car and headed toward the tracks. Lua and Akins followed to go on "an adventure," Amormino told KTLA.
Lua says she remembers falling asleep near the tracks and believes here two friends must have fallen asleep as well.
Amormino told KTLA that Lua's story "doesn't add up," and he believes there are details in the investigation that still have to be sorted out.
At least one resident who lives near the tracks, Keith Ball, said he heard heard laughing and screaming about 3 a.m..
He told investigators that kids often hang out near the tracks and that it is a popular drinking and partying spot.
The area is easily accessible by foot but surrounded by fences.
Bolton and Akins were struck by a northbound Metrolink 603 train which was traveling 90 miles and hour and was carrying 67 passengers. No one on the train was hurt.
The sole survivor of the tragedy is identified as 27 year old Silvia Lua of Santa Ana, according to Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.
Botlon and Akins, who may have fallen asleep on the tracks, were killed early Thursday morning when they were struck by a Metrolink train. The accident was reported at 6:15 a.m. in the area of Alicia Pkwy. and Via Fabricante.
Lua, who suffered moderate injuries in the accident, says she and her friends met up up at a bar in Santa Ana Wednesday night. She says the three met there because it was close to her house, but denies they were drinking, Amormino said.
Lua called 911 to report that she had been struck by the train and "didn't know what happened to her friends," Amormino said.
Deputies searched the area and found the bodies of Bolton and Akins.
Their bodies were dragged about a quarter of a mile down the tracks, investigators say.
"The young people met up earlier in the evening, went to Laguna Beach and ended up at this popular 'hang out' spot," Amormino said.
Bolton and Lua met on Facebook last week and were planning to go to a friend's house in Mission Viejo to spend the night when they were hit by the train, Amormino said.
"We believe the victims may have fallen asleep on the tracks," Amormino said.
Lua told investigators she heard the train coming and was able to jump out of the way.
She suffered moderate injuries to her arm and leg and is hospitalized in stable condition.
Lua said the trio met at the bar, spent a few hours there, then drove to Laguna Beach where they walked along the beach and then headed to Mission Viejo.
They parked near a Starbucks but they fell asleep inside the car, Amormino said.
Amormino said Botlon got out of the car and headed toward the tracks. Lua and Akins followed to go on "an adventure," Amormino told KTLA.
Lua says she remembers falling asleep near the tracks and believes here two friends must have fallen asleep as well.
Amormino told KTLA that Lua's story "doesn't add up," and he believes there are details in the investigation that still have to be sorted out.
At least one resident who lives near the tracks, Keith Ball, said he heard heard laughing and screaming about 3 a.m..
He told investigators that kids often hang out near the tracks and that it is a popular drinking and partying spot.
The area is easily accessible by foot but surrounded by fences.
Bolton and Akins were struck by a northbound Metrolink 603 train which was traveling 90 miles and hour and was carrying 67 passengers. No one on the train was hurt.
