In a recent update on the investigation into last year's Green Line derailment in Somerville, federal investigators have released new documents offering insights into the moments leading up to the accident. According to WHDH, transcripts from interviews with the train operator reveal she was cognizant of the 10 mph speed restriction on the tract but could not remember her speed at the time of the derailment.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has disclosed that the train was traveling around 36 mph when it passed through a red stop signal and encountered a track switch in motion, leading to the eventual derailment. Further investigation shows that while the leading railcar continued straight, the following two cars diverged onto another track and were consequently derailed.
Moving beyond the technical details, the human element of the incident comes to light in the frustrations expressed by former MBTA operator Daisha Fauntleroy. In a transcript from an NTSB interview published by WCVB, Fauntleroy voiced her dissatisfaction with the MBTA's response following the accident. "What I didn't like or what I don't like about the whole situation is how I'm an employee for the MBTA, and they just publicly put the blame on me first without checking their equipment or checking the rails or anything like that," she said.
Although the accident resulted in minor injuries to seven passengers, who were transported to a local hospital, the response from the MBTA has raised questions about the support and accountability systems in place for their employees. In the aftermath, the operator involved in the incident is no longer employed by the agency, as confirmed by the MBTA on Wednesday. The derailment, which affected the route where the Medford/Tufts branch intersects with the Union branch, prompted an immediate shutdown of the Green Line service in the area for over a day.
