Green Line Derailment Over The Weekend Was 'Operator-Related'

BOSTON (CBS/AP) — A transit official says a subway derailment that sent nine people to the hospital over the weekend in Boston appears to have been "operator-related."

The deputy general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Jeff Gonneville, said Monday investigators had ruled out mechanical issues involving either the vehicle or the tracks as a cause.

He said the operator, who investigators believe was at fault, has been suspended and could be fired pending the outcome of their investigation. The operator was familiar with the route.

"He reached a signal point, at that point in time a switch was in the process of switching over to the D branch," Gonneville said. "The train proceeded and that's where we had our derailment."

Green Line service was heavily impacted, shuttle buses were provided to assist commuters. Marissa Sewart was on the train behind the derailment. Hearing the operator may be at fault is not comforting news. "You get on assuming they have your safety in mind and even like a little accident can completely derail a train that's pretty scary," Sewart said.

Gonneville provided a brief update on Saturday's derailment inside a tunnel near Kenmore Square to the MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board.

T officials previously said they had interviewed the operator, who has not been identified.

Gonneville said there were 11 reported injuries. Nine people were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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