Surveillance video captures tram/trolley station accident in San Francisco

CCTV - San Francisco, July 18, 2009

New video of last Saturdays collision between two Muni trains was released Wednesday, showing images that a Muni spokesman described as flat-out disturbing.

The video of the accident from cameras mounted inside the West Portal Muni station where the accident took place Saturday afternoon just before 3 p.m.

A K-Train had just unloaded passengers and was stopped waiting for the signal to exit the tunnel. Right behind it, an L-Train keeps coming and coming until the violent impact.

Passengers on the platform seem initially shocked at the collision, but then approach the train seemingly to check on the passengers.

A Muni spokesman said the video is hard to watch.

It's flat out disturbing to see one train hit another like that, said agency spokesman Judson True.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators said the video is part of their examination into what happened and why. The crash sent four people to the hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. 43 others were less seriously injured.

The investigation could take up to a year, according to the NTSB.

The driver of the L-Train, 61-year-old Henry Gray, told authorities he blacked out moments before the collision.

Investigators said before losing consciousness, Gray switched the train controls from automatic to manual, which is against Muni protocols.

But Muni drivers said it is a common practice to save time. Muni officials have since issued an edict.

"What we have done since Saturday is reinforce the existing rule about not switching to manual without notifying central control," said Muni spokesman True. "We've done that through bulletins to all operators."

This was one of a number of guidelines Muni implemented Monday aimed at increasing safety in the wake of the West Portal station crash.

Train operators will be written up if they are observed in manual, or cutout, mode without authorization from central control.

Additionally, if a train is seen moving in manual control without central control permission, the train controller will stop the train and contact its operator. Hourly announcements started Monday to remind operators that they must not go into manual mode or bypass any vehicle function, or change operating modes, without approval from central control.

Also on Monday, a bulletin was issued to light rail vehicle operators to remind them of existing rules and instructions regarding the changing of operating modes.

Supervisors at the Embarcadero, Church and Duboce and West Portal stations have also been alerted of the enforcement regarding the changing of operating modes.

"These quick actions show that we will take all necessary steps to make the system as safe as possible," said True.

The accident could be an expensive one for the city given the number of injured passengers. Muni can expect lawsuits. The agency has paid out over $60 million to injured passengers over the past seven years.

Christopher Dolan, a San Francisco attorney who has frequently represented clients in lawsuits against Muni, said the injured passengers have a strong case.

"Somebody who transports people for money has the highest duty of care," said Dolan. "Turning off a safety mechanism for expediency breaches any duty of care."

This video of the crash will likely play a role in the lawsuits that are sure to come.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Surveillance
• video
• captures
• tram/trolley
• station
• accident
• in
• San
• Francisco

[begbie73]

and nobody walks to the train to see if somebody is hurt...everyone walks away !!!!!

idiots !!!!

[darraghmcsweeneydmcs]

sorry but that is ridiculos nobody went to help...what a shitty bunch of people

[348frank348]

wow they really could care less, I thought u commentators were exaggerating

[Bigaid]

fucking stupid yanks, as if they didnt go and see if anyone is hurt, the people on the platform probably fucked off to go and get a burger or summit!!

[DPJu]

Typical US attitude. In Canada, would be different. People would want to help.

[JetRanger0007]

No Shit, they just acted like its an everyday occurance or something a train slamming into the back of another train, Ahh no big deal, I'll just sit here and do nothing, not even the old man did anything, and none of them noticed this was gonna happen before hand - I could see it before hand, what a bunch of Clueless cold hearted Dimwits live in S.F geeeshhhh !

[falconwind00]

Well, obviously this train is going to be late. *Walks away*

[ocrailfanner1995]

They dont even help they just sit there Omg people these days

[chris03653837]

hey I have been on that train. that is the mexican express

[DaSkinnyApe]

WAS THAT WOMAN TEXTING?

[DocSicnarf]

@darraghmcsweeneydmcs I'd just assume everyone died and move on with my life.

[Roboboy]

Epic crash...whatever happened to overspeed restrictions and block protections? What ended up being the reason for the accident?