Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog
The driver responsible for a Boston subway accident that injured more than 60 people has admitted to text messaging at the time of the accident and pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the May 2009 rush-hour crash, the Associated Press reported.
As our MBTA injury lawyers have reported, the crash lead to tough new rules preventing MBTA employees from using cell phones while on the job.
The driver pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to gross negligence by a person in control of a common carrier. He was sentenced to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service. He admitted to texting his girlfriend in the moments before the accident at the Government Center subway stop. He ran through red and yellow warning lights and crashed into the two-car train ahead.
He was fired. The assistant district attorney had asked for a six-month jail sentence, citing the number of injuries and the cost of the crash — which has been tagged at about $10 million.
The driver submitted a letter of apology to the court.
“Not a day goes by where I am not reminded of the suffering that my actions caused and the broad impact of my accident,” he wrote. “I pray that one day I will be able to make amends in some ways to the affected persons.”
Several personal injury lawsuit remain pending as a result of the accident.
Since the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority enacted the ban, which prohibits operators from possessing cell phones or similar devices while on the job, 22 MBTA employees, including bus and train workers, have been discharged or suspended for violating the policy.
If you have been injured in a Boston bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, contact Massachusetts Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.