Trolleys collide in Boston; 49 people hurt
AP

17 mins ago

BOSTON – A trolley rear-ended another trolley that was stopped between two underground stations in downtown Boston on Friday night, injuring about 50 people, and one of the conductors told police he was texting at the time of the crash, officials said.

About 100 people were evacuated, and 49 were taken to area hospitals, but officials said their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The 24-year-old operator of the moving trolley, who was the most seriously injured, admitted to police that he was sending text messages from his cell phone when the accident occurred, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Dan Grabauskas said.

The MBTA has stepped up enforcement of the rule against cell phone use by operators following a trolley crash in Newton last May that killed the driver of a trolley that collided with another. Although there were reports the driver was using a cell phone just before the crash, an investigation ultimately determined there was no evidence she was using her phone.

Grabauskas said the operator of the trolley that struck the parked trolley admitted to investigators who interviewed him in a hospital he saw the red light ahead of him as he was texting, but it was too late to stop.

"I can tell you it's difficult to contain my outrage at hearing this," Grabauskas said.

Officials would not release the conductor's name, but MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said he had been on the job for less than two years.

Most of the victims suffered cuts or skeletal injuries, said John Gill, deputy superintendent of Boston EMS. Two people had chest pains.

Some passengers had to be extracted from the trains, deputy fire chief Richard DiBenedetto said. Others were taken from the station on stretchers or backboards.

The collision occurred at 7:18 p.m. between Park and Government Center stations. A westbound two-car trolley was stopped at a red signal, waiting to enter Park Station, when it was hit by another two-car trolley.

The damage was limited to the front of the moving train and the rear of the train that was struck, Grabauskas said.

An investigation will try to determine why the moving trolley did not stop. Grabauskas had no estimates on how fast it was traveling.

Green Line service between the stations was shut down after the crash.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/a...lley_crash

What's up with all these driver texting.....

Just another reason NOT TO TWITTER!~~~

Dumbass deserves to be fired.

There was a terrible Train wreck a few months ago, because the conductor was texting, people DIED. I don't know what can be done about this, it's a horrible shame.
[Edited 5/9/09 4:39am]

meow85 said:

yep there is a law here that it is illegal to drive and talk it should also be drive and text ANY machinery!

I live in Boston and have to say this is horrible. I feel really bad for the people that got hurt and the mess it caused.

BUT, the Boston T system sucks. Where else in the world do you have two to three trains riding on the same track that can catch up to each other. WE have accidents all the time because it isn't built efficiently. Boston needs to upgrade their 1950's trolley system to stop things like this from happening.
[Edited 5/9/09 6:59am]

He didn't CAUSE the crash, he failed to prevent the collision . . .

Dayclear said:

That's why I am not a train operator anymore. IT's too dull and boring. I would read . . .

missmad said:

I'm sure there is a law, but just because it's a law doesn't mean it's being obeyed.
It's illegal to talk on the phone or text while driving in CA but you wouldn't know if from all the people you see driving and holding a phone . . .

jecica said:

The Bay Area. BART

I actually live IN Boston..... that dude that was driving was my cousin. He was actually picking his nose, he sneezed and jabbed his nose too far up his nostril, causing pain. He told me he closed his eyes, for a second then BAM! His booger is still on that handle.

meow85 said:

My thought exactly.

meow85 said:

At the very least. Should get jail time

paintedlady said: