Engineer who authorities say purposely derailed train near USNS Mercy in San Pedro ordered held without bail

A San Pedro man suspected of intentionally running a train off the end of the tracks in San Pedro in hopes of hitting the USNS Mercy earlier this week was ordered Friday, April 3, to remain behind bars on no bail until his trial date, authorities said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael R. Wilner made the order at a brief detention hearing in a federal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles, noting 44-year-old Eduardo Moreno posed a danger to the community and was a flight risk, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for United States Attorney’s Office.

Moreno has been charged with one count of train wrecking and could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, Mrozek said. He was scheduled to enter a plea to the charge May 7.

Moreno attempted to run from the locomotive after the crash Tuesday, March 31, but was located and later arrested after admitting to law enforcement in two interviews that he derailed the train deliberately in hopes of hitting the USNS Mercy because he believed it had an alternate purpose related to COVID-19, such as a “government takeover,” federal officials said.

The train plowed through multiple barriers after it ran off the tracks, ultimately coming to rest 250 yards from the ship, officials said.

The hospital ship came to San Pedro Friday, March 27, to treat patients who are not believed to have COVID-19 starting Saturday in hopes of freeing up local hospitals with COVID-19 patients.

No one was injured, but the crash caused a moderate diesel gas leak.

Moreno, who was a certified locomotive engineer, has been decertified and is not authorized to work as a locomotive engineer on any railroad in the United States, said Stefan Friedman, spokesman for PHL.

The company was cooperating with law enforcement and has resumed normal operations in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, he said.