The death of a woman struck by a Metrolink train in Saugus Friday has been ruled a suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.
“The cause of death was a suicide,” said Ed Winter, L.A. County coroner spokesman.
Elizabeth Torres, 49, a transient, was struck and killed by Metrolink Train 221 near the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Drayton Street in Saugus just before 7 p.m. on Friday, May 11.
L.A. County firefighters and Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies responded and reported her dead at the scene.
“She was pronounced dead on May 11 at 7:04 p.m.,” Winter said. “The autopsy’s been done: blunt force trauma, and ruled a suicide.”
“We have surveillance video of it and it looks pretty clear that it was a suicide,” said Detective David Gunner of the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau, who was among the first responders and assigned to investigate the case.
Gunner said no eyewitnesses came forward, although there were social media posts by residents who said they saw the woman throw herself into the train’s path.
“The train was stopped about 500 yards from the point of impact,” one eyewitness who requested his name not be used told SCVNews.com.
While he did not see the impact, the eyewitness saw the aftermath.
“The scene was gruesome, there were pieces everywhere,” he said. “One of the sheriff’s deputies put a sheet over the largest part of her body.”
The eyewitness also saw two rolling suitcases sitting alongside the tracks near the point of impact, he said.
Train 221 was northbound a few minutes out of the Newhall Metrolink station when the train struck Torres.
Passengers on Train 221 were bused to the Santa Clarita station to board Train 227 to Lancaster.
While widely published unofficially, Torres’ identity was not officially released until Friday, following official next-of-kin notification.
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8 Comments
Not again
This lady would come into my work & talk to thin air about being a prophet…. & Talk about an abusive husband, Sad to know this happen to her
She was my cousin we grew up together my sister said to me Elizabeth had a double whammy she had skizophnia and major depression so no suicide she was sick and needed help, I found out after her death talk with her mother and sister had family members try to get her to stay with them she not go. I didn’t know she was out there I live in Long Beach CA. I wouldn’t had gave her no choice she would had went with me, I didn’t know Liz was that sick my sister told me at times I just didn’t know. Well I stay in touch as much as I can with my Dad side of the family. My dad had call me and told me about Elizabeth
It’s not been a year yet and my dad died this May 2019 and my Auntie is the last sybling
. My Auntie not go to her brother Funeral she still dealing with Elizabeth death.
Vanessa DH
I used to see her at the Starbucks off of Newhall Ave, she seemed to have some mental issues. Unfortunately there is a big homeless problem in Santa Clarita and very few resources for the homeless. This woman would walk around town with her suitcases, she rarely spoke to anyone, obviously she must had been dramatized about something in her life. Rest in peace my friend.
I would see this woman at the Starbucks in Newhall. She seemed like she had some mental issues. She would always walk around town with her suitcases. I am so sorry she decided to commit suicide. Rest in peace.
I was homeless for awhile 2 yrs ago and I meet this woman. Always see her speak to her but saw she had issues. Sad how they closed the homeless shelter but still have the main office. She suffers no more.
This was my mother