Denise Tyrrell resigns Metrolink, defends her statements about crash

I just got off the phone with former Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell, who held that position for the last seven years. She confirmed the media reports making the rounds this morning that she has resigned her job.

At midday Saturday, Tyrrell told reporters that Metrolink's engineer caused the crash in Chatsworth on Friday by missing a red signal that should have told him to stop the train. The resulting crash has killed 25, making it the worst Metrolink crash ever and one of the worst rail disasters in the United States in recent years.

But yesterday, the Metrolink Board of Directors met in closed session, and after they emerged Ron Roberts, the chair of the Board, issued a statement -- first reported on this blog -- saying that the National Transportation Safety Board believed the assignment of blame was premature and that the board agreed.

Today's Wall Street Journal has this passage:

However, there were indications that Metrolink may soften the admission. Ron Roberts, chairman of the Metrolink board, said Sunday: "What was said by one of our public-relations employees needs to be followed up on by the board and myself."

Mr. Roberts said Metrolink's board had not been informed that spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell was planning to say Metrolink was at fault for the accident. "It's not up to us to decide why this has happened; that's up to the NTSB," he said. "Things have come up that indicate they need to fully check" all aspects of the incident.

Here's what Tyrrell told me:

"I felt the damage to my reputation is so great, I could not work for these people anymore," Tyrrell said. "If I am not mistaken, the engineer blew through a light. The media got on top of this story apparently so unaccustomed to a public agency telling the truth they started to spin it that we were trying to throw all the blame on the engineer. Metrolink is responsible for the engineer, they are responsible for overseeing the contractor. Talking about the human error aspect of this is not a way to shift blame from Metrolink -- Metrolink is still the responsible party to oversee the contract with the engineer and the conductors."

Tyrrell said that she listened in on the board meeting yesterday by telephone, as did most of the board. The board was in closed session most of the time, so Tyrrell would not provide details of what was said in the meeting.

"I am not at liberty to discuss the contents of the board meeting, but I think I can reveal they were unhappy without violating any confidentiality. I was a listener -- it was a telephone conference. I did not participate, I was not asked to participate, I was asked to attend the meeting."

She said Metrolink's CEO David Solow gave her the authority to make statements to the press on Saturday about the cause of the crash.

"He told me to go ahead...I felt that when my reputation was called into question in the national media by Ron Roberts that there was no going back as far as I was concerned. I believe that David Solow's decision to allow us to go public without waiting for the NTSB to point the finger was a brave and honorable thing to do. We have a  basic difference here that can't be resolved. I see no way I can represent them and maintain my own standards. They are free to conduct their own business as they see fit."

Obviously, this is a stunning turn of events, considering the severity of the deadly crash, the quick assignment of blame and then what appeared to be a retraction of that blame last night by the Metrolink board.

UPDATE, 9:35 a.m.: I just want to make one point clear. The NTSB said Sunday that it appears that the Metrolink train did not stop at a red signal. They also said the Metrolink train blew through a switch set to divert the freight train to another track. But the NTSB has yet to say whether it's the Metrolink engineer's fault or a problem with the signal. So the dispute here is whether blaming the engineer was premature or not.

--Steve Hymon

Comments

[watchdog]

It's a sad commentary on our society when giving an honest appraisal of the situation as you know it at the time is as Denise Tyrrell did is something to be criticized and attacked for, but to instead stand up and give evasive and ambiguous statements is considered acceptable.

[Watchdog]

Time will prove that Ms. Tyrrell was correct when she she made her accurate statement to the press. As for it being premature? Well, do we chastise Barak Obama for being premature when he thought we were wrong to go to war with Iraq? No, it's the truthfullness and accuracy of the statement that matter, not when the statement was made.

[James]

You never hear about any accident in the New York Subways.These metro cheap-skates killed 25 people. The New York subways are covered. They even have a dead man's switch on the handle that stops the train if the driver is incapacitated. The engineer Robert Sanchez could have blacked-out or had a heart-attack.There are heart-attacks that when they happen,you're gone instantly.But still there was no back-up. Why aren't 2 people in the driver's area. Airplanes have 4 pilots who can take over if some one keels over.Subways have 2 person back-up. This is dispicable.These metro cheap-skates will pay themselves over-paid salaries of 87,000 dollars a year and can't even have safety back-ups. A second driver in the car also would have noticed the running of the red-signal and still could have stopped the train. All tranportation systems should have safety back-ups. Just a second driver in the cab could have prevented this. They complain about the costs.Have you read how much those spoiled fools on the board make? 114,000 dollars a year. 97,000 dollars a year.What the hell are you fools going to do with 97,000 dollars a year. I thought every thing was already computer-linked.I thought wrong. These fools had the safety implementations of 1860 when the trains were running.Just so they can fatten their bank accounts with their 114,000 dollars a year salary.You board members jobs are to protect the public not just figure out a way to run a system by cutting costs and hiring sub-contractors. You members should take a 50 percent cut in salary.You don't deserve that money and you don't even deserve your jobs. I can't believe this ancient technology was being used in 2008.You on the board should all be ashamed of yourselves.

[bigun]

Denise Tyrrell has proved one thing: she is human. Hey Metrolink please see is she wants to be rehired.

[Hector]

Denise Tyrrell did nothing but give an honest appraisal of what the evidence showed. She said that the accident was caused by an engineer not stopping at a red light. She did not "blame" him, only cited that he had not stopped. She also said she did not know why he did not stop. That in itself showed that she was not saying he "ignored" it. Her honest answer left the door open for reasons such as medical conditions like a blackout, or heart attack, seizure or in one of many reasons that would not place blame on him. She was only accepting on behalf of metrolink, responsibility, not blame for the accident.

[Gene]

Having studied human factors, psychology, and mishap investigation at the Masters' level, it strikes me that the level of emotional irrationality surrounding this incident is distrubing.

Ms. Tyrell's public statement regarding fault in this crash may have been well-meaning, but it was totally irresponsible. At the time she made the statement the first responders were still trying to pull the dead and dying out of the wreck; the NTSB had not yet spoken to Metrolink; and there is no way her agency could have concluded anything remotely resembling a full investigation in the first 20 hours.

While it may be true that the Metrolink train rolled through one or more red lights, assigning 'the cause' to the engineer at this (beginning) stage of the investigation is folly. The NTSB investigators are trained to get to the real issues, whatever they may be.

Accidents are rarely the result of a single cause, but are more often the convergence of a variety of factors, many of which may be systemic (organizational) in nature.

The tendency to 'blame the operator' is nearly universal, partly because it appeals to those who are uneducated about the real dynamics of organizations as they effect individual error, and more so because the management can take themselves off the hook for their failure to find and address the 'latent pathogens' in their system that helped lead to the accident.

The search for 'the' cause is folly in itself; it presumes a priori that there is but a single cause, which is almost never true.

Any competent PR spokesperson should know better than to make public statements attributing cause prior to the completion of the formal investigation. If she did not know that, her training was inadequate; if she did know that, why would she do it anyway?

Someone here posted that it is a FACT that there was no evidence of any mechanical failure. This is equally irresponsible; for all the same reasons, it is grossly premature to come to those conclusions.

Let the NTSB do its job, and in the meantime the rest of us should avoid coloring the public debate with statements of cause or responsibility when those facts have not yet been established. It will all come out soon enough.

In the meantime, some might try reading "Diagnosing Vulnerable System Syndrome," by James Reason, PhD, in the British Medical Journal (www.bmj.com).

[Angela]

I say thank you to Denise! I am tired of how our system works. I didn't feel at all that she was blaming the engineer when I heard the news live. I feel she was admitting that it was human error and that metrolink would need to take responsibility for this tragedy. I am tired of lies and I believe if Denise hadn't said these things this investigation could have gone in a very different direction. She opened the door for families of the victims to get answers not bull****.

And on top of that the comment about her tearing up, well kudos to someone being human in a horrible tragedy. Why does everyone have to be a robot. I guess we will be better off in the future when everyone is actually a robot!

[J in Pasadena]

Denise Tyrrell did not tell the truth; she told half the truth. In the same breath she blamed the engineer, she should have come clean on Metrolink's failure to install adequate safety measures. I just read an article saying Metrolink CEO David Solow argued against positive stop safety mechanisms in 2007 citing costs as a factor. I also read that the engineer was diabetic, working 12-hour split shifts and had exposure to a terminal illness a few years ago. But really Tyrrell also failed to mention the engineer blew through three signals and could not be contacted by radio, according to other reports. Time and time again Tyrrell has proven herself a corporate PR spin hack over the ease at which she casts blame on other parties in Metrolink accidents. ("The driver of the vehicle parked on the tracks," or something to that effect.) Furthermore, Solow told her to make the statement, and now -- as a good, loyal hack -- she is taking the fall for him. Casting blame today is really no different than prior Metrolink incidents. So especially in this case half the truth was not the truth at all.

[stve]

i believe it was 1998 signal was ignored in Fullerton metro link ran into the side of a freight train. I think for now there should be 2 people in the cab of the engine

[UCLA fan]

Ms. Tyrrell was completely factual. She merely stated that the accident was caused by the metrolink train running the red light. She also said she "did not know why the engineer ran the red light". That implied that it may or may not have been his fault. That was a completely factual and honest assessment of what metrolink knew at the time. At that point, what led up to the engineer running the red light did not matter. Only giving us the facts, as they were known at the time. And those facts were that the metrolink train had run a red light and hit head-on with a freight train.

[Concerned Train Rider]

Please direct this to: M. Nason, crisis media expert: You wrote that Ms. Tyrrell provided a breath of fresh air by "reporting and taking responsibility" for this incident. You could not be more incorrect. She did not point “blame” at Metrolink – she pointed directly at the locomotive engineer, a subcontractor from Veolia and former Amtrak employee – which she was so quick to point out.

When reporting an incident on the railroad, the FACTS must be given - no speculation, emotion or personal accounting can be allowed. The situation is too volatile and lives are at stake. When Ms. Tyrrell was asked what she thought had caused the accident, her response should have been, “This is a fluid situation and is under investigation.” Instead, she became teary and stated that obviously something was wrong because “two trains should not be on the tracks at the same time.” She immediately showed her immaturity and inability to stick to her job, which was to state the facts without any color commentary. It is here where she should have been pulled from the job and taken away from any microphones. Instead, she professed to "tell the truth" because “the community deserved it.” When did Denise Tyrrell become an expert on rail safety and engineering? The NTSB is dispatched to a scene to DETERMINE THE CAUSE of an accident, and they are the FINAL AUTHORITY. She had NO RIGHT to speak on behalf of anyone, nor claim righteousness for her statements during or after the fact. In fact, if Ms. Tyrrell knew how to do her job in the first place, she would not seek more limelight and reputation damage control – she would care first and foremost about those who lost their lives, all of the Metrolink Ridership and her team of employees – subcontractors or not.

One great tragedy that nobody is talking about is the additional and AVOIDABLE pain and suffering to the family of the Metrolink Engineer who lost his life that was brought on by this woman’s irresponsible words. Isn't it true that our country was founded on innocent until proven otherwise? Shame on you Denise Tyrrell – you care not for this family or the families of those lost this tragic accident – nor any of your fellow employees – but only for yourself and your precious reputation.

[Peter]

Yes - we should just make sure that we stick with whatever the institutions that are responsible for this are saying. Obviously, any person who quits is a quitter, and they are obviously to blame for killing 26 people. So, it's a good thing so many people are lining up behind Metrolink, especially the media. That's awesome. Yay, Metrolink!

[An Insider]

Some of you are right and some of you are a little off.

The contract, if written like the previous contract, could let the operators (Veiola?) 100% off the hook. I personally know this .

AmTrak had safegaurds in all aspects of their Metrolink operations that kept them 100% protected in the event of loss, even if they were 100% responsible.

This simply breds a culture where it is ok to make mistakes since only you the tax paying public pay for it.

I will say that I am not sure why a statement was made in the first place. It was a clear breakdown in crisis management.

A simple "the matter is under Federal investigation and it would be premature to comment on the tragic event" would have sufficed.

The public has a right to know the facts, not a misunderstood "guess".

Metrolink also has a right to have known facts before them so they can decide the best course of action. This is not a priviledge, but a right.

[Jack]

Metrolink Employee, with all due respect, you seem to just change your slant and ramble on in a different direction when confronted with your inaccuracies, even to the point of calling Ms. Tyrrell a completely different name (Miss Trammell) I seriously doubt that you worked directly for Denise. And if by some remote chance you did, I would wonder in what capacity you worked directly under a spokesperson?

Forgive me if I am wrong. But your postings give me the impression that you are just making things up as you go along. Getting caught in a false statement and just moving along in a different direction. Of course I could be wrong, Metrolink Employee, but I really do get that impression.

[calwatch]

That's because you, "metrolink employee", don't actually work for Metrolink, but for Veolia. It would be interesting to read the agreement between Veolia and Metrolink and see where the responsibilities lie.

[Jack]

Metrolink Employee- What obvious signs did Metrolink ignore about this engineer? If they are so obvious, could you enlighten us as to what they were?

You seem to have shifted your attack on Denise Tyrrell away and now toward Metrolink.

[calwatch]

Thank you, Denise, for doing the ethical thing and telling all of us what we probably thought happened but didn't have the internal data to support. Rather than handwringing and dancing through hoops and obfuscating (that means you, Francisco); someone that actually is forthright in the public should be applauded, not be forced to resign. Unfortunately, if Tyrell is gone, then David Solow is next... but who will end up taking the helm of the agency then?

[Anon]

She was fired for saying Metrolink is sorry for causing the deaths and injuries. So now Metrolink isn't sorry? They are going to go back to insurance-company-lawyer excuses? How exactly is Metrolink not liable? Just for firing the person with the guts to say Sorry: Metrolink officials, you'd better hope I'm not on the jury, I'll remember and hammer you.

[metrolink employee]

one more thing...shocked. spell, like ms trammel spelled VEOLIA on live network television. I doubt she could spell TRAIN>

Veolia is not the reason this accident happend. They entrust the local authority SCRRA to manage their operations. SCRRA is ultimately responsible for our actions because our actions are dictated by their whims... not Veolia's.

I'll say again V E O L I A. in english... VEOLIA, and pheonitic spelling VEOLIA.

I know your are an associate of Denise, so take your love for her to the families of the deceased and injured. All i'm trying to suggest is that there is more TRUTH than meets the eye, and I'm sorry if I'm too upset to speleeeleelele it correctly. Maybe I'll resign tomorrowwwwww

[metrolink employee]

to shocked... I'm sorry if I'm upset right now and am not up to par in grammer and possibly edicate.

Unlike Denise, my friends and daiily associates are dead. She does not know the passengers... she never rode those trains.

And you are correct in this point in all your grammer and punctuallity...Ms Trammel does not have anyone working for her... she's fired!!!

[metrolink employee]

I'm not trying to insult or argue with any of you people here tonight.

What I am trying to say is this...

there is far more going on behind the scenes than most will ever know.

So, for those of you who live your lives based on what you learn from network news media coverage...I'll say this to you: maybe global warming caused the accident.

For those of you who aren't complete idiots and exist in the real world I will say this:

DENISE IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A POLITICAL CONGLOMERATION OF COUNTIES WHOS BULK OF MEMBERS DON"T EVEN RIDE THE TRAINS>

WAKE UP> THESE ARE POLITICIANS (on a pathetically small scale) WHO ARE TAKING DRASTIC STEPS TO BURY THE TRUTH.

IF THE SIGNAL WAS RED: THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED>

If there was a signal malfuntion and the signal displayed an aspect indicating advance, then I apologize for trying wasting your time and I apologize for everyones loss and suffering.

[shocked]

Metrolink Employee is nothing of the sort. Ms. Tyrrell does not have anyone working under her. And if she did, they would at least use proper grammar and learn how to spell.

[metrolink employee]

i understand everyone's strong feelings towards this incident.

This is a horrible tragedy that will undoubetly have a tremendous inpact of the lives of many people.

This incident is much larger than each of us as individuals, and our opinions of minor incidentals relating to this tragedy.

the simple fact is this... if the signal was red, the incident could have been prevented. .. and sadly, for those of you who lost love ones, completely inexcusable.

There is no explenation that will make up for your loss.

I apologize for this.

But there is much going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.

i am not just some other railroad fanatic trying to voice my naive opinions on some major incident curves my interest.

I am a eductated individual with insight into this incident, that may be lacking in grammer and vonacular, I am still able to see that incident could have been avoided.

I'll say that again. Regardless of any other substantiating facts or findings, or whatever is fed to the media to mass consumption, the simple FACT is this...

if the signal was RED, then there were obvious signs that the engineer should not even have been running (driving)the train that day anyways. But sadly, the Metrolik Engineers work in an envoronment where they cannot request time off if they do not feel comfortable comming to work that day. If they do not show up they will not only lose pay, but they are barbarically reminded that they will lose their jobs.

So, the worst thing for Metrolink to discover is that the signal was RED.

They are not doing the public some great justice by pushing the blame on the engineer and accepting responsibility. These are puppets behind attourneys who are doing noting more than avoiding responsibility for their own incompetence and personal agendas.

These are polital appointees, and the excact people that so many torch bearers for SCRRA (Denise) are bad mouthing in support of the very people who take the emphasis off of Metrolink safety and put it onto other areas that only degrade from the safe operation of the Metrolink trains.

If the signal was RED then shame on you metrolink.

that engineer should never have been operating one of your trains on that day.

although we are contract employees, you are ultimately responsible for our actions. that's why hardworking Californians pay so much in taxes! and Metrolink passengers pay the price they pay to ride your trains.

you ignored obvious signs that an employee should have been pulled from service, and ultimately, created an environment where his co-workers could not have done anything fto rectify the situation for fear of reprocussion for their concerns.

THE TRUTH WILL BE TOLD>lie, lie, lie... you are only digging your own graves. people are dead and injured because you never gave a F>>>>>>>

[James]

Sean k: A friend of a friend who happened to know the engineer told me that the engineer was one of the best in the business. He therefore couldn't have been at fault. QED. We can speculate and opine and form conclusions based on what a friend of a friend with inside knowledge told us, or based on newspaper reports, and that's okay. But presenting this opinion, no matter how reasonable, as FACT before all the facts are known is at best premature and at worst, hints at something more unsettling. Let the NTSB do its job.

[Weak Link]

I think the reason David Foster Wallace hanged himself Friday night is because people have so perverted language that basic communication is nothing more than lies and more lies, and maybe a little marketing and advertising if you're lucky.

We live in a stoner nation. No one is in their own shoes anymore. They're yakking to Yokohama. They're texting Tupelo, and the next thing you know, they're gristle is twisted metal.

Is a trainwreck the perfect metaphor and the thing itself all in one?