Shocking video shows a California light-rail train furiously jerking back and forth as its ‘fatigued’ operator appeared to nod off at the controls.
The terrifying incident unfolded on September 24 when a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) driver allegedly fell asleep while piloting a crowded Muni train through the city’s Sunset Tunnel.
Surveillance footage showed the operator’s head tipping back about a minute and a half into the ride, her oversized fake eyelashes fluttering as she visibly struggles to stay awake.
She briefly straightened up and glanced around before slumping again, with her eyes drooping shut.
Moments later, the train rocketed to 50mph as it barreled through the tunnel, with passengers completely unaware of what was going on in the driver’s seat.
As the train burst into daylight at the tunnel’s end, it jolted violently, hurling riders and the driver into the walls.
A California train furiously jerked as the operator ‘nodded off’ at the wheel, sending passengers flying
The train nearly missed an almost disastrous head-on collision with an approaching car on the road
Commuters crashed into each other before the operator suddenly woke and managed to regain control, narrowly avoiding what could have been a head-on collision with an approaching vehicle.
The train did not derail but overshot its scheduled stop at Duboce Avenue and Noe Street before finally grinding to a halt.
In the aftermath, the dazed driver rushed to calm the rattled passengers.
The sleepy train driver halted the train and tended to the horrified passengers, apologizing to them
Distressed passengers after they were slammed around when the train suddenly jerked
The train operator slumped forward before she took passengers on a bumpy ride
‘I’m sorry,’ she says in the video. ‘Relax, relax, relax… we didn’t crash. Relax.’
Miraculously, no one was hurt and all passengers were safely released from the runaway train.
The SFMTA later confirmed the cause of the ordeal was operator fatigue, adding that the employee had been placed on non-driving status pending a full review.
‘The agency is addressing the matter in accordance with internal protocols and the relevant contract,’ officials said in a statement.
Julie Kirschbaum, SFMTA’s Director of Transportation, told local outlet KRON4 the agency was taking the terrifying lapse seriously.
‘We know this was a frightening experience for our riders, and we take that very seriously,’ she said.
‘Safety is always our top priority. We are committed to accountability and taking all necessary steps to keep Muni safe and reliable for all riders and the public.’