At approximately 8:40 a.m. Wednesday a young mother and child attempted to cross the railroad tracks at California Avenue and Duarte Road on foot despite the cautionary bells and clangs that indicate a train is in the immediate area.
Multiple agencies for Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, L.A. County Sheriff’s and Urban Search and Rescue coordinated the rescue efforts as part of a mutual aid agreement with Verdugo Dispatch.
On Thursday, the Medical Examiner’s office in Los Angeles confirmed the death was a result of suicide. Therese Papagayo, 36, committed suicide pending additional information according the Medical Examiner.
According to Ramon Montenegro, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Bureau public information officer, the arriving first responders and paramedics declared the two victims dead at 9 a.m. The train was operating on the L Line, formerly known as the Gold Line, and was going northbound from the Monrovia Station when it hit the pedestrians, Montenegro said.
Rail service was interrupted between the Monrovia and Duarte stations, and buses were brought in to accommodate passengers, according to Metro.
According to reports, the train was pulling out of the Myrtle station en route to Duarte when the mother attempted to cross the tracks despite all the usual precautionary and safety deterrents in place.
In a desperate attempt to save the child’s life, the mother allegedly threw her 14-month old out of harm’s way, or so she thought. The child did not survive and the deceased mother was pinned under one of the L Line cars.
Heavy equipment was brought in to assist with the raising of the train and recovery of the body.
There were no immediate reports of other injuries in this incident. The Deputy Medical Examiner, Dr. Kennedy, said death of the Filipino mother Wednesday morning was ruled suicide.
