WASHINGTON, D. C. Metro Operator Asleep At The Controls

Teen: Video Shows Metro Operator Asleep
FOX 5 Exclusive: Train Operator Caught on Tape
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A 14-year-old Metro passenger captured stunning footage on the Green Line in Maryland. Gregory Thomas said he was riding the line June 18 and witnessed the train operator asleep at the controls.

With his mother's permission, Gregory spoke exclusively with FOX 5's Will Thomas.

"At firs More..t he's dozing off then, he's not in a full sleep. I see him start to doze off and his head going limp," Thomas said.

FOX 5 provided Metro officials with the video clip and they confirm the incident is already under review and it is still not clear exactly what the operator was doing. The teenager sent his video to Metro's Customer Service Department June 23, the day after the deadly Red Line Metro crash. Thomas said it was a wake up call.

"They need to review their drivers and give them better training," Thomas told FOX 5.

Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel commended the teen and encouraged other passengers to come forward as well.

"We want to know exactly what's going on. If people see something they don't feel is safe please let us know," Taubenkibel said.

This exclusive footage surfaces in the same week another passenger's video made headlines. In the other case, a train operator was disciplined after the footage showed him texting while his train was speeding along the Blue Line tracks June 5. Metro said the operator confessed.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• WASHINGTON
• dc.
• Metro
• Operator
• Asleep
• At
• The
• Controls

[mtrlgmtrlb]

Sleeping on the job in this position should be grounds for automatic dismissal! 3 chances to kill someone, great.......

[HerosComment]

LOL Good for you Gregory Thomas, I seen you on Fox National News today, looks like you found your 15 minutees of fame, did they fire the schlump? LOL

[leonardwilson85]

This was an aberration. I live in NYC and the system is slow, overcrowded, and full of rats and bums. I wish the system in my city was as good as the Metro.

[gamesfreak699]

in NYC, you have to hold onto the controls, unless the emergency brake triggers.

[bri2njm]

DC Metro workers in general need to step up their behavior on the job. my card didnt work one time, and when i asked for help at the booth, the man just stared at me and angerly and waved me off. once i got the card to work on my own after like 20 trys, i give the guy a dirty look back and guess what he does? He storms out of the booth and literally starts threatening me to tell him thankyou. Acting like he was gonna go ghetto on my ass. tired of these ignorant "workers"

[tomf688]

the trains haven't been automated since after the crash last year

[dennyfrontier]

I sleep when I drive all the time, in fact its when I get most of my sleep. I have to commute from Akron ohio to Cleveland every day. 77 is pretty much just straight there I just set the cruise control in the left lane.

[reformer666]

They are a lazy, worthless bunch.

[ECDT1089]

did you see that De42lfa in this video. look at the bottom left around 00:47 - 00:48

[bonscott01]

potential spelling and grammar errors in YoungMCwasAwesome's post....

1. y'all has an apostrophe in it..providing you use it...

2. "hav" has an "e" in it...

3."he be white"...i bet if he was white would've been acceptable...

4. "woodnt"...has an apostrophe in it...

5. "yo"...should've been a "your" or "you are"...

6. "consernd" is spelled concerned...

7. safetey is spelled safety

8. no too sleep no mo???...WTF

LEARN TO WRITE YOU FUCKING DOUCHEBAG ! ! !....

[WMATAvids]

but if they are doing track work and the operator isnt paying attention then you will be seeing some deaths

[Gizmo3210]

Normally, that's true, but since the Metro crash of June 22nd....all trains are being operated manually...which makes this video even scarier.