Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday presented citations to Mark McNeill and Ainsley “Lee” Saunders.
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It took the MBTA three hours to release information about a train that had traveled several stops without anyone driving.
Early last Thursday morning, the driverless train sailed through four stations and more than 5 miles with about 50 passengers on board. “Once they opened up enough space they then killed the power for that section of third rail”, DePaola said.
The two workers are being awarded for their actions to shut down an MBTA Red Line train running on the tracks without an operator, in what the state transportation secretary called “an unacceptable breach of our responsibility to keep riders safe”. Investigators are now blaming the driver for violating several safety protocols.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority General Manager Frank DePaola was expected to accept that recommendation Tuesday, according to an individual with direct knowledge of the decision. As for the train’s operator, he’s on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.
“It’s important to remember that every day, most of the people who work for the T are actually working really hard, doing a great job [and] providing reliable public transportation for over a million riders a day”, she said.
Multiple reports have indicated the operator rigged the controls to keep the train in motion and officials have said he did not set either of the two brakes required before stepping off the train to switch it into bypass mode – which allows the train to move past faulty signals and also disengages the collision avoidance system.
Pollack said at the time that the incident appeared to be the result of a “series of irresponsible actions” by a single employee.
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A union official tells 7News that runaway Red Line driver David Vasquez has been suspended without pay pending his termination.
