A San Francisco Muni train operator allegedly fell asleep at the controls before the train crashed into another locomotive, with shocking footage capturing the moment of the collision.
The incident happened at around 8.30am on July 31 near 47th Avenue and Wawona Street, just north of San Francisco Zoo. The crash involved two L Taraval trains and left the train’s windscreen shattered.
Two passengers were on board at the time, but both escaped without injuries. The operator was also unharmed and has since been removed from driving duties while an investigation is carried out.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) transportation director Julie Kirschbaum described the incident as unacceptable. The agency said its initial findings pointed to operator error caused by fatigue, while mechanical and infrastructure problems had been ruled out.
The L Taraval service operates on surface sections where trains are manually driven and rely on physical deadman control switches. Unlike sections operating under automated systems, there is no automated back-up to slow or stop the train if the operator loses focus.
The latest crash has raised fresh concerns because it is reportedly the second similar incident involving a Muni operator in less than a year. In September last year, passengers were jolted after another operator appeared to fall asleep while driving a two-car North Judah light rail train.
That train crashed after travelling through a curve at more than 50mph near the East Portal tunnel at Duboce Avenue. The operator was subsequently placed on non-driving status, with an investigation later determining fatigue was the cause.
The incidents have also prompted renewed questions about working hours and overtime among transit operators. Under California Public Utilities Commission rules, light rail operators in safety-sensitive positions are limited to 12 consecutive hours of work, or 12 hours within a 16-hour period, and must receive at least eight consecutive hours off before beginning another shift.
Despite the restrictions, data cited in the report showed that 91 per cent of transit operators worked overtime in 2024. Overtime can involve adding up to four hours to an existing shift, potentially resulting in working days of up to 12 hours.
Following last year’s incident, SFMTA introduced regular fatigue-awareness campaigns for employees and random video reviews to check whether operators were complying with safety procedures.
The investigation into the latest collision remains ongoing, while the operator’s removal from driving duties is expected to remain in place as authorities examine exactly what led to the crash.
