I never really thought too much about it until today during Arbor Day when they planted a cherry blossom tree in his honor. My thoughts immediately went to his wife, and his son, Andrew, whom I've known since preschool. I remember always seeing Andrew with his dad smiling whenever they were together. I knew Andrew had a really special bond with his dad, one that is rare and genuine. To know that he is gone leaving Andrew and his mother behind is a great shock for me. I pray that he's in heaven and that his family and friends that he left behind are all well.
We'll all see him on the other side.

Well jake .... i really really miss you man

you were my best friend and the one person i trusted. i miss telling you my events of the day and how much i messed things up to hear you say dog its ok lets just get in a session of guitar hero and hit up the ping pong and then we will talk. I miss you so much its crazy. cracking jokes. playing guitar hero. taco bell. singing our favorite songs together. you always supported me and had my back through everything. you were a really great friend and you taught me many things about myself and life. My kids will never see or chill with the great uncle jake. it makes me sad. i think about you almost everyday that goes by. i want to play my guitar and ask ya what ya think. ask you for advice on relationships and hang out. play some ping pong. what happened to the beach trip we were going to have every year .... its not possible anymore .....

jake .... thank you for everything you did and for being such a great person.

you once told me that it was never good bye .... it was always i will see you later. i hope its true.

you impacted my life in so many different ways and i will forever be greatful. look after everyone man. we have a new star in the sky ... and not just a regular star but a rock star !!!! ya

i sure miss beating ya at guitar hero....

thanks for the memories i know have to tell my kids or anyone willing to sit and listen to our crazy ideas.

I love you man and say hi to john john for me

and sorry john for everything

hope we can all sitdown again at one giant table and play slap the egyptian one last time !!! and then talk about the bills haha

love ya and stay strong everyone

cuz its what jake always pushed for.....

strength and happiness

hang in there

we will all see him again someday!

stay strong steph and the hefters

you know i always got your backs

jake would do anything for me and i shall do the same for you

god bless you all

mike

LOS ANGELES TIMES - March 2009:

"Metrolink engineer Robert Sanchez was twice warned by supervisors about improper use of cell phones while in train control cabins. On the day of the crash, he sent and received 57 text messages, including one 22 seconds before the crash.

Also troubling is that messages from Sanchez show that he allowed rail enthusiasts into the control cabin, which is forbidden by Metrolink policies.

Federal officials said Sanchez sent and received 43 text messages and made four phone calls while on duty that day, including one that he sent 22 seconds before the collision.

The texts indicate Sanchez had allowed the teenage boy and a friend to ride in the cab and sit at the controls four days before the crash, and that he was planning to let the teenage boy drive the train between four stations on the evening of the crash.

"I'm gonna do all the radio talkin' ... ur gonna run the locomotive & I'm gonna tell u how to do it," Sanchez wrote in one text.

shelley,

every night i hear the metrolink train blow it's horn in the distance -- it breaks my heart EVERY NIGHT.

i heard the train blow it's whistle minutes before the crash on that dreaded day.

i watched them pull officer desha's young body out of that train and i cried. i had met her a year before, and i never forgot her.
she was such a beautiful girl.

she and 23 other innocent, wonderful people lost their lives that day because THE MAN YOU ARE (OBVIOUSLY)OBSSESSED WITH DECIDED IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO TEXT HIS BUDDIES INSTEAD OF DO HIS JOB IN A SAFE, RESPONSIBLE AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER.

ROBERT SANCHEZ WAS WARNED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN NOT TO USE HIS CELL PHONE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING THOSE TRAINS.

riders reported him. employees reported him. a supervisor stepped onto his train and dialed his cell phone - it rang in as he hid it in his hand ! it was supposed to be TURNED OFF WHILE HE WAS WORKING.

he should have been fired.

robert sanchez was a DANGEROUS, DEFIANT man who eventually killed 24 people, injured numerous other people, and shattered countless lives.

get some help shelley.

I am really glad that people came to share this memory still... i am betting you that he is still rip... we all love you and everyone from the office still gives you flowers beside your picture...

It's been 6 months and five days and the pain doesnt seem to go away. Life's definition has a new meaning since you've been gone. I miss you big sister, more than words can say. I love you Dee.

your kid sister,
Debbie

six months and four days ago....jacob was taken away....i miss him soooo much...always and forever in my heart babe i miss you.....much love for mr. and mrs. hefter and jared and jordy...and of course jacob i love you babe and always will

Everyone here who posts blaming Robert for the accident entirely lambasts him as if they've never done anything wrong themselves. And when does texting on the job make one a monster? Running a red light that apparently wasn't called out from the evidence presented at the NTSB hearing on march 3 and 4 does not make one a monster, guys. Honestly! And who in their right mind takes rush Linbaugh seriously anyway? I haven't taken him seriously for fifteen years and I don't consider myself a flaming liberal by any means. Thorough review of the physical and signal evidence may point to Rob's failure to pay attention on a stretch of track that he had travelled so many times before and so many trains had also travelled that day, but it doesn't make him a monster. More thorough safety measures may have helped to alleviate a disaster initiated by a distracted engineer for whatever reason, but you can't convince me a man who lost sleep over the death of a pedestrian hit while he operated the train days earlier would intensionally, deliberately run a red light when his own life was at stake. That's just crazy logic. It makes me angry to see people drag his name through the mud and yet it may bear out a quote someone once said "it takes years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." It's all very sad and still gives me shivers and brings me to tears on ocasion. Call me the Rob Sanchez torch carrier and tell me I'm wrong for defending him, but I'm not convinced at all that he's in the category of dirty criminal or monster. Sorry guys I'm not buying that one. Inattentive? Breaking obvious policy? Perhaps. The investigation is still on, there was only a public hearing laying out the events that occurred just prior to the accident. People who know my interest in this have asked me what I think. What I think is that it's all very sad and he deserves some dignity, respect and courtesy like everyone else who died in the wreck.---Shelley Queen of Bells

Claudia, Kelsey, Zach, and McKenzie, Norma and JoNell - I am so sorry to hear of Doyle's passing. The Sousers were a wonderful family when we were growing up and my brother Erik and I were fortunate to spend a lot of time in their loving, welcoming presence.

I have not seen Doyle in nearly 30 years but I can see from these tributes that he never changed from the beautiful gentle soul he was as a young man. He was quite the heroic influence as a suave high school and college guy (Doyle had a weakness for the coolest clothes back then) for my brother and I.

Back then, Doyle kept a tidy bedroom, clean car and cool clothes - very tidy. Looking back now, I can appreciate his patience and tolerance when he endured a couple of messy curious kids following him around the farm (and undoubtedly messing up his stuff). He always made us feel welcome.

I am so sorry that he's gone yet so happy that he led such a great life and has left a wonderful family and loving friends. We were all lucky to have known him and it will be good, some day, to see him again.

God Bless Doyle's family and friends in California and Colorado.

Don Peterson, Corvallis Oregon

It's taken me a very long time to be able to write to everyone and reread all the wonderful emails and wishes to our family. Everyone has been so wonderful in capturing the essence of my brother. He was such a special spirit and everyone that he came in contact with now realizes this amazing individual. I wish that I can put into words the enormous loss I feel and the constant pain and dread that I feel each morning hoping that this has not really happened. Having my brother torn away from me is something that I will never be able to comprehend. I try everyday to only focus on the good times, and when I do, I can't help but smiling. On the other days when I'm not as lucky, all I do is re-live every moment leading up to the horrible news. I will forever cherish the connection we had, not just of brother & sister but as a best friends. You gave the best hugs and unconditional love & support. I will forever miss you.....