Copyright ABC News
San Francisco morning commuters were taken for an unexpectedly wild ride after their train operator appeared to fall asleep at the controls. Passengers were seen in security video footage obtained by ABC News screaming, with some even jolted from their seats and others slamming into the train's wall, after the operator appeared to doze off. "I'm sorry, relax, relax, relax -- it wouldn't stop. We didn't crash," the driver said to the visibly shaken passengers after the train car came to a halt, according to the footage. The incident occurred on the morning of Sept. 24 when the two-car N-Judah train was headed inbound toward downtown San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. The agency said the train experienced a "series of unexpected jolting movements" while navigating a curve at an "excessive speed" of 50 mph while exiting the Sunset Tunnel near Duboce Park. Muni light rail trains typically travel at a speed of 8 to 10 mph, according to SFMTA. "Several passengers were jostled and fell due to the sudden motion," the agency said. The train passed its designated stop at Duboce Avenue and Noe Street before coming to a halt on Duboce just past Walter Street, the agency said. On Monday, SFMTA released a statement confirming the jolting train was due to "operator fatigue." In the footage, the driver's eyes seem to be closed and her head tilts to the side at the moment the passengers are jostled. The agency said it placed the operator on "nondriving status" and is "addressing the matter in accordance with internal protocols." "Safety is always our top priority," SFMTA Director Julie Kirschbaum said in a statement. "We are committed to accountability in response to this specific unacceptable incident and we are taking all necessary steps to keep Muni safe and reliable for all riders and the public."
