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Running through a closed turnout (switch)

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Here is a very interesting pictorial synopsis and reenactment of the crash, including views of the signal, switch, and tracks.  There is a description of how the switch was damaged by the run-through:   <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <A href="http://www.latimes.com/media/acrobat/2008-09/42434650.pdf">http://www.latimes.com/media/acrobat/2008-09/42434650.pdf</A> <o:p></o:p> From what I understand, the point of impact was maybe a couple thousand feet or so beyond the switch.  When the two trains were at the point where occupants of the cabs could see the opposing train, there was only about 5 seconds until impact at a closing speed of about 80 mph.  During this short interval, the engineer of the freight train put the brakes into emergency, but Sanchez did not.   The red signal was some distance beyond the station, and was visible from the station where Sanchez’s train had made a station stop.  I think there is a reasonable possibility that Sanchez stood at the station stop with the red signal visible, left the station and approached the red signal, passed the red signal, ran the switch, and closed on the freight train; all without any recognition of those events prior to the impact.  During the two minutes prior to impact, Sanchez first received a text message from Person A, and then sent one to Person A.  Just seconds after sending that final message, the two trains collided.
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