Service
Investigators closed track service yesterday for hours to perform more tests, and riders were bused between several stations. But service is expected to go back to normal for this morning’s commute, according to the T.
Published 22:18, June the 1st, 2008
Trolley in fatal crash was moving too fast
NEWTON. Federal investigators continued tests over the weekend to determine what caused the fatal Green Line trolley crash Wednesday.
For several hours yesterday, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board attempted a “sight distance test” to visualize what Terrese Edmonds, the second trolley’s operator, saw when her trolley struck another from behind, including what the signals looked like from her perspective. Edmonds was killed in the crash.
On Saturday, the NTSB revealed the second trolley was traveling 37 to 38 mph at the time of the crash. The speed limit in that area is 10 mph. The trolley ahead had just stopped at the signal and was moving forward at about 3 or 4 mph when it was hit.
The NTSB has indicated Edmonds didn’t apply the trolley’s brakes before the accident.
Investigators hoped the tests performed yesterday evening would shed light on why the second trolley was driving nearly four times faster than it should have been. There was also no word on reports Edmonds may have been seen by passengers talking on a cell phone prior to the crash.
The NTSB’s investigation and final recommendations will likely take months to complete.