A 25-year-old man was arrested following Wednesday's commuter train collision that killed at least 10 people near downtown Los Angeles.  

Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams said Juan Manuel Alvarez, who intentionally parked his Jeep on the rail tracks and caused the train collision, will be facing at least 10 counts of homicide.

A southbound commuter train from Ventura County struck the Jeep at about 6 AM local time and caromed into a stationary freight train locomotive before colliding with a northbound commuter train from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

At least 10 people were killed and hundreds were hurt in the crash that also disrupted morning rush hour commuter train traffic.

Alvarez, who is on the suicide watch list, drove his Jeep Cherokee on the tracks, then changed his mind about taking his life and fled from the vehicle when the train was approaching.

Adams said Alvarez had made some superficial attempts overnight to kill himself -- slitting his wrists and stabbing his chest -- and was treated for those wounds before being booked.

According to police records, Alvarez has a previous arrest history, possibly involving drugs.

"He has been cooperative and he has talked to our investigators," Adams said.

Alvarez is accused of leaving a Jeep Cherokee on the tracks, causing the derailment of one train, which then crashed into another.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2005)