Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

Juan Manuel Alvarez (L) is brought into a courtroom in Los Angeles Superior Court for arraignment on murder charges in Los Angeles, January 28, 2005. REUTERS/Al Seib/Pool

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A man who parked his sports utility vehicle on a Los Angeles commuter rail line, causing the deadliest U.S. train crash since 1999, was sentenced on Wednesday to 11 consecutive life terms in prison.

Juan Manuel Alvarez, 29, was convicted two months ago of 11 counts of first-degree murder stemming from the collision of two Metrolink commuter trains in January 2005. More than 180 people were injured.

At his trial, Alvarez testified he parked his Jeep Cherokee on the commuter line tracks north of downtown Los Angeles to commit suicide but changed his mind at the last minute and could not get the vehicle off the tracks.

He then stood by and watched as one train plowed into his vehicle, derailed and crashed into an oncoming train.

Police said Alvarez was found wandering around the scene muttering, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Prosecutors said the former construction worker intended to cause the calamity to get the attention of his estranged wife. Arson investigators said gasoline had been poured inside and on the Jeep.

Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Alvarez, but jurors in July recommended life in prison, which the judge formally imposed without the possibility of parole.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Steve Gorman and David Wiessler)