JOANN GROFF/Acorn Newspapers LOVE AND SUPPORT—Albert Cox, at right, showing signs of the injuries he suffered in last Friday's Metrolink train accident, is embraced by a friend during a prayer service Sunday at Grace Brethren Community Church in Simi Valley. More than 800 attended. Albert Cox breaks into tears when he describes the terror of the Metrolink train crash Sept. 12. Although he says he's grateful to have lived, the guilt is overwhelming.

"These are good, honest working people, and they don't understand why their loved ones were taken from them," Cox said, his eyes glistening. "I feel guilty. I was saved. And I'm no saint by any means."

Cox, a 52yearold Simi Valley resident, was sitting in the third car of Metrolink train 111, the train he takes home every day from his job at a motion picture lab in Burbank. As it rounded the curve in Chatsworth, he gazed out the window and saw the oncoming freight train.

"The brakes on our train weren't being put on," Cox said. "I thought, 'I must not be seeing this right. We must be on the side track.' It took all of four seconds to realize that wasn't the case."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers ESCAPING FATE—A note posted at the Simi Valley train station reads: "To my Friends, bike riders: John, Brad, Bob, Kenny, all my friends on 111 train. This is Jerry Romero. I'm O.K, I did not take the train 111. By God's act I drove to work to pick up new bike. I pray that all you guys are O.K." The train, traveling from downtown Los Angeles, was heading for its final stops in Simi Valley and Moorpark when it collided with a Union Pacific freight train. The investigation into why the Metrolink engineer, who died in the crash, ran a red light is ongoing. The collision pushed the Metrolink's engine into the first car.

Twentyfive have been pronounced dead and more than 130 were injured. As of Monday, 24 remain hospitalized, four in critical condition.

Cox said he doesn't remember flying over rows of seats and taking out a table with his head. He blacked out for a moment and considers himself lucky to have walked away with a broken nose, some bad abrasions and a severely injured ear that required 45 stitches.

Although it's hard for him to understand why he made it while so many others didn't, Cox said he needs to be here for his family. His wife has multiple sclerosis and his 17-year-old daughter has Lou Gehrig's disease.

"I have family members who need care, so I'm grateful for that," Cox said. "I'm not done here yet."

More than 800 mourners gathered last Sunday at Grace Brethren Church in Simi Valley to give support to those affected by the crash. Many in the audience wept or covered their faces with their hands. Some held their mothers or friends while others sat alone, praying. Worship leaders sang hopeful songs, praising God's plan.

When Tony Amatangelo of Life Spring Community Church in Moorpark asked members of the crowd to stand if they knew someone on the train personally, nearly half of the 800 mourners who gathered in the spacious church rose to their feet.

Amatangelo lost his close friend and associate pastor, Paul Long, in the crash.

"If you had loved ones there, we know what those few hours (after the crash) were like for you," said Amatangelo, who had rushed to the site with his wife. "You have to know how hard they (the first responders) were working. I understand the uncertainty. I understand the pain. My heart was changed that night."

In addition to Long, Moorpark residents who died are Beverly Mosely, 57; Howard Pompel, 69; and two young students: Maria Villalobos, an 18yearold who attended Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and Aida Magdaleno, 19, a Cal State Northridge student who was on her way home to Moorpark for her nephew's baptism.

Magdaleno's sister, Gabby, touched many people as she appeared on news programs, waiting at the Moorpark station, hoping to hear from Aida. Gabby Magdaleno, who also attends CSUN as a graduate student, called her sister "her other half."

"She always wanted to help out her community and was so humble, kind and cheerful," she said. "She always valued her education, and everywhere she would go she would take her books or mention something about her classes. She had no limits, not even the sky, because she always strived for her dreams."

Ten Simi Valley residents have been confirmed dead: Gregory Lintner, 48; Alan Buckley, 59; Roger Spacey, 60; Ronald Grace, 55; Donna Remata, 49; Walter Fuller, 54; Atul Vyas, 20; Michael Hammersly, 45; Yi Chau, 71; and Spree DeSha, 35, a 12year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Lintner survived the Metrolink crash that killed 11 people three years ago.

Francis Chan, teaching pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, said he visited the home of Walter Fuller over the weekend.

"I saw this peace in his wife," Chan said. It's the most horrible time, and there are tears coming down her face, but she's okay. There's this absolute confidence of, 'I know where he is.'"

Two Camarillo residents died in the crash: Dennis Arnold, 75, and Doyle Jay Souser, 56.

Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy has been consoling victims and their families at churches and prayer services since the crash.

"There's not much you can say when you lose lives like this," Foy said. "We are here to be part of whatever we need to do, not from a government standpoint, but as a community standing with them. That's the biggest thing they need to know, that we are standing with them."

Bob Roper, Ventura County fire chief, encouraged families to get help, just as the first responders do.

"After something like this, we go home, kiss our wives, call our friends and talk about it," Roper said. "You need to find a way to express yourselves. Don't let your feelings get bottled up."

Chris Godfrey, Ventura County Sheriff's chief deputy, also prayed for the first responders.

"(Let us pray) that every piece of ourselves left behind with this tragedy is returned to us in abundance," Godfrey said.