NTSB: Metrolink Engineer Texting Before Crash

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a Metrolink engineer driving a commuter train that crashed head on with a freight train last month outside Los Angeles sent a text message some 22 seconds before the crash.

In all, 25 people were killed and more than 130 suffered injuries in the Sept. 12 crash. The engineer, Robert Sanchez, was among those killed in Southern California's worst train accident in more than half a century.

Sanchez, who worked a split shift on the day of the crash, reportedly sent a text message at 4:22:01 p.m. while guiding the Metrolink. The crash is estimated to have taken place at 4:22:23 p.m.

According to subpoenaed cell phone records from Sanchez's phone, he reportedly sent 24 text messages and received 21 during his morning shift that day. At the time of his afternoon shift, he reportedly sent five text messages and got seven in return.

Following the deadly crash, California Public Utilities Commission prohibited train operators from texting on the job.

According to the NTSB, the brakes on the Metrolink train were not used before the collision and stop signals at the scene were working at the time of the crash.