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Texting Driver Causes Boston Subway Crash

Collision in tunnel injures 49, including tech-addled conductor

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted May 9, 2009 12:30 PM CDT
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(Newser) – A subway conductor distracted by the text message he was sending his girlfriend caused a collision in a tunnel beneath downtown Boston last night, the Globe reports. One two-car Green Line trolley rear-ended another at the Government Center station, injuring 49. The victims included the 24-year-old texting driver, who will likely be fired and may face criminal charges, according to his boss.

"We let our employees know there is a zero-tolerance policy for any type of electronic device," said the head of the local transit authority, known as the T. "It's difficult for me to contain my outrage."

Emergency personnel work outside the Government Center MBTA station in Boston, Friday, May 8, 2009. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Dan Grabauskas says the collision occurred at 7:18 p.m. One trolley was stopped between Park and Government Center stations at a red signal when it was hit...
Emergency personnel work outside the Government Center MBTA station in Boston, Friday, May 8, 2009. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Dan Grabauskas says the collision occurred...   (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)
A Green Line trolley car travels a Boston street.
A Green Line trolley car travels a Boston street.   (©Pylon757)
A Boston subway conductor was sending his girlfriend a text moments before he caused a collision with another train last night in a downtown tunnel.
A Boston subway conductor was sending his girlfriend a text moments before he caused a collision with another train last night in a downtown tunnel.   (©Pylon757)
Passengers wait on benches following the evacuation of Government Center MBTA station in Boston, Friday, May 8, 2009. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Dan Grabauskas says the collision occurred at 7:18 p.m. One trolley was stopped between Park and Government Center stations at a red signal when...
Passengers wait on benches following the evacuation of Government Center MBTA station in Boston, Friday, May 8, 2009. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Dan Grabauskas says the...   (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
atris999
May 11, 2009 2:09 AM CDT
That, and I strongly push for the elderly to be re-evaluated for competency.
Mad
May 9, 2009 7:08 AM CDT
Spooky they let 24 yr old kids as conductors. Somehow, I always figured that was a position of trust that took years of reliable service to achieve.

This is the second serious Green Line accident in less than a year
Boston Herald

 
subway • Boston • Massachusetts • trolley • MBTA • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

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