Sep 15, 2009 10:13 pm US/Eastern
MBTA Driver Hit Brakes Too Late
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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The train was moving about five miles-per-hour when it hit the bumper.
WBZ
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About 20 people were hurt and all of the injuries are minor.
WBZ
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The train involved in Tuesday's MBTA train accident at South Station was going 10 miles per hour moments before the crash and the driver waited too long to apply the brakes, T officials tell WBZ.
Eighteen people on train 512 from Worcester were hurt in the crash.
Several passengers were thrown forward when the train pulled into the station and bounced off of the bumper just after 9 a.m.
OPERATOR ERROR
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the engineer was to blame.
"His statement is he simply misjudged the distance between the end of the platform and his train," Pesaturo said, adding that distractions such as cell phone use or texting were not factors.
The driver coasted into the station at 10 miles per hour, Pesaturo said, but waited until the train was just 70 feet from the steel bumper before hitting the brakes. That was not enough distance for the train to reach a complete stop.
By the time of the impact, Pesaturo said the train was going under 5 mph.
Sources tell WBZ that the driver became distracted while getting ready to set the hand brake, which led him to applying the brakes late.
There was no damage to the train, which had about 300 people on board at the time of the accident.
A passenger told WBZ's Sera Congi many people on board were standing up preparing to get off of the train when they were jolted by the impact.
Send: Your Pictures, Video From The Accident
THE INJURED
"Most of (the passengers) have minor bumps and bruises and are walking on their own," Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve McDonald told WBZ.
For precautionary measures some were put on backboards and stretchers.
13 went to the hospital.
According to Dr. Jonathan Olshaker, five of the patients were taken to Boston Medical Center for treatment of cuts, bruises and possible broken bones.
Five others were treated at the scene.
THE ENGINEER
Pesaturo told WBZ's Peg Rusconi the engineer is 35-years old. He had seven years of experience with Amtrak before coming to the commuter rail in 2003.
Pesaturo said the engineer's record is clean, and that he has been driving the Worcester line since May with no incident.
Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company spokesman Scott Farmelant told WBZ the train operator will be tested for drugs and alcohol, which is standard procedure in this type of situation.
"The engineer of the train has been taken out of service and placed on leave pending outcome of an investigation into the accident. Data from the train's onboard recorders will assist in the investigation," Farmelant said in a statement.
Pesaturo says the engineer will face disciplinary action, pending those results.
MBCR oversees the commuter rail lines.
Check: MBTA Service Updates
NO AFTERNOON DELAYS
Pesaturo said the MBTA did not anticipate any delays in the afternoon.
"There's no indication there are any issues with the infrastructure or equipment," he said.
Several streets and exits in the neighborhood were closed, including Exit 20 on the northbound side of the Southeast Expressway and Exit 24 on the Pike eastbound.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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