SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — New video obtained by KRON4 News appears to show a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency driver fall asleep behind the controls on a rough light-rail train ride in September.
The ordeal happened around 8:37 a.m. on Sept. 24 while the two-car train, packed with passengers, was exiting the Sunset Tunnel near Duboce Park, the video shows. The train suddenly “experienced a series of unexpected jolting movements while navigating a curve at an excessive speed of 50 mph,” according to an SFMTA press release from Nov. 10.
“Several passengers were jostled and fell due to the sudden motion,” SFMTA stated.
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The train sped through its planned stop at Duboce Avenue and Noe Street before coming to an abrupt stop on Duboce just past Walter Street, the video shows. The train did not derail.
In the video the driver can be heard apologizing to frightened passengers.
“I’m sorry,” the driver says in the video. “Relax, relax relax … We didn’t crash. Relax.”
Paramedics responded to the scene and the SFMTA opened an investigation into the incident.
“The SFMTA has completed its investigation, which confirms error as a result of operator fatigue,” SFMTA said. “The agency is addressing the matter in accordance with internal protocols and the relevant contract, which included placing the operator on nondriving status.”
Workers performed a full inspection of the train’s brakes and confirmed the train was working properly, SFMTA said. The tracks and related infrastructure were also checked and no issues were found.
“The SFMTA has reinforced existing training on the importance of watching for signs of fatigue and reporting it appropriately with operators and other Muni staff,” SFMTA said.
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The agency is actively working with the manufacturer of the new light-rail vehicles on software that could limit speeds along specific sections of track.
SFMTA Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum issued a statement Monday in response to the newly surfaced video.
“We know this was a frightening experience for our riders, and we take that very seriously,” Kirschbaum said. “Safety is always our top priority. We are committed to accountability in response to this specific unacceptable incident and we are taking all necessary steps to keep Muni safe and reliable for all riders and the public.”
KRON4 reached out to the Transport Workers Union for comment on the incident and is awaiting a response.
John Ross Ferrara
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