Metrolink engineer injured in derailment dies

The locomotive engineer of the Metrolink train that derailed last week after colliding with a truck-trailer sitting on track in Ventura County, Calif., died of his injuries yesterday, the railroad announced.

Glenn Steele, 62, had been in critical condition since he was hurt in the Feb. 24 incident. Twenty-eight people were injured; four — including Steele — sustained critical injuries. Steele is the only fatality.

Also injured were the train's conductor and Steele's student engineer, but they were released after receiving treatment, according to a press release issued by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). Steele was a member of BLET Division 20, which has established an assistance fund for Steele's family.

An employee of Amtrak, Steele worked in the rail industry for more than 40 years and was the longest tenured engineer among Metrolink operators. In a prepared statement, Metrolink Interim Chief Executive Officer Sam Joumblat described him as a "dedicated and hardworking railroader."

The truck driver who abandoned the vehicle on the track before it was hit by the train has not been charged, according to local news media. The collision remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.