MBTA Fires Texting Trolley Operator

Aiden Quinn, the 24-year-old trolley operator who rear-ended another trolley while texting his girlfriend, has been fired. The crash injured 49 people.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bans operators from using cell phones while on duty. Despite that, Quinn told authorities that he was sending a text message to his girlfriend during the accident.

MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas told Quinn in a letter:

"You have admitted to MBTA officials that you were on your cellphone and text messaging immediately prior to the crash. The Authority's investigation shows that your poor judgment and inattention to duty caused you to violate a signal before rear-ending [another trolley] ... The impact of the accident caused numerous injuries to the passengers and employees on both trains, as well as millions of dollars worth of damage to both trains."

Meanwhile, the union representing MBTA trolley and subway operators is moving to block the a possible implementation of a total cell phone ban. The Boston Carmen’s Union filed a grievance with the MBTA this afternoon asking the agency to immediately halt implementing the new policy.

As I indicated, the MBTA already had a ban on using cell phones, but wants to implement a ban on possessing cell phones. According to a letter obtained by the Boston Herald, the union supports banning use of cell phones by drivers but calls plans to bar cell phone possession and fire workers after a second offense “unreasonable“ and “unfair.”

Unfair? Ahem, it should be noted that Aiden Quinn was the 10th bus or trolley driver to have been suspended in the last year for texting or talking on their cell phones while driving. If the union seriously does not want a ban, it darn well better get its drivers to stop.