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No evidence of cell phone use in D Line accident
By Kaz on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 4:48pm
After examining Ter'rese Edmonds' cell phone for usage leading up to the May 28 crash on the Green D Line, the Middlesex District Attorney declared today that there was no evidence to suggest she was distracted by her cell phone in any way. No e-mail, text messaging, phone calls, or internet use was going on in the minutes prior to the crash. What exactly caused her to miss the signal and go 30 mph too fast that day into the rear of another train leaving a stop signal is still unknown.
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Comments
Cell phone question
Is it possible that she could have been distracted by the ring of her cellphone that she did not answer? I don't know if that would show up in any records.
Would show on my cell, as a
Would show on my cell, as a "Missed Call".
Ditto
My phone would show the missed call, and I expect the cell provider would have records of attempted connections that went uncompleted. That sort of data would seem necessary to any sort of QOS management.
Unsurprising
This development is unsurprising. Anyone who rides that branch of the green line will tell you that on that stretch of track, the minimum sight distance for the operator is at least 100 yards and usually several hundred yards or more. Given that the second train was travelling between 35 and 40 m.p.h., the operator would have had to have been distracted for a long period of time to not have had time to see the train ahead of her and to apply the brakes (earlier reports have indicated there was no evidence of braking). I think that is inplausible.
I have always suspected that the operator suffered a seizure, fell asleep, or was otherwise incapacitated immediately prior to the collision. I also think this is a reasonable suspicion because the green line trains are not equipped with a deadman's handle (designed to stop the train in case of that type of event). Consequently, she could have gone unconscious with her foot on the gas pedal. Time and a thorough investigation will tell, however.
It's scary to think about, but if the other train (and those ahead of it) hadn't been there, that train could have gone all the way to and into Riverside Station at 40 m.p.h., unless a passenger noticed and took over.
Unsurprising
Isaac, you may be an expert, I am not, and you could be exactly right. But I thought, in my distant recesses of memory, that the Green Line cars had a "dead man's switch" which was a foot pedal. However, if she was disabled and slumped over, that may not have helped.
Taking bets
seizure? diabetic coma?
Hrm...
Well, theoretically, if she had gotten text messages before, she could have been reading them - that won't registr as use because it is downloaded to the phone, so in theory one could read several text messages (or emails depending on the phone) without any usage being reported.
Wouldn't someone had noticed if she were slumped over? Too bad there aren't cameras on everyone greenline train. It would help in situations like these, as well as stop you douchebags from throwing your copies of that shitrag the metro around.
Just the thing the T needs to spend money on.
METRO NEWSPAPER SURVEILLANCE SQUAD!
CHIEF: Stibbons! Thank god you're here! Camera B2-5A in Car 812 has just picked up an image of a commuter leaving a Metro on the seat next to him. Here's the digital imaging. You gotta nab him quick, Stibbons!
STIBBONS: Hmm. Guy in a Gino Vanelli shirt. I'm on it. Which way's the train headed?
CHIEF: C Line. Outbound to Cleveland Circle.
STIBBONS: I'll take care of it, and make sure this guy disco dances inbound... to justice.
(DAVID CARUSO puts on SUNGLASSES. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!)
LATER, AT ST. MARY'S...
STIBBONS: Answer me!
DUDE ON PLATFORM: I don't know, man!
STIBBONS: Did you or did you not see Car 812 go by here?
DUDE ON PLATFORM: Gimme a break, man, I just got here. I don't count the cars.
(STIBBONS gives DUDE ON PLATFORM a vicious slap)
STIBBONS: It's people like you who are undermining the safety and security of this country. I ought to attach jumper cables to your nipples and find a car battery.
DUDE ON PLATFORM: I swear I don't know nothin!
STIBBONS: That's a double negative. Do you mean you do know something?
DUDE ON PLATFORM: I'm just trying to get to Coolidge Corner, man!
STIBBONS: That's it. I'm bringing out the straight razor and a copy of "Stuck In The Middle With You."
DUDE ON PLATFORM: All right, all right, I'll talk! Car 812 passed by approximately two and a half minutes ago. When it stopped here, eleven people got off, six through the rear exit, and three people got on. Two had Charlie Cards, but the third tried to pay with cash. Ugly sight, man. The train has those Legal Seafood fresh seafoods ads all over it, you can't miss it, it's got the one where the fish says "I did your mom."
STIBBONS: Now that's what I was hoping to hear. Here's a backhand across the face as a reward.
(STIBBONS delivers a stinging backhand because he's bad-ass that way.)
STIBBONS: Hmm. The train's already on its way to Cleveland Circle, but traffic is a bear this time of day. I can chase the train down by foot!
(There is a QUICK ACTION MONTAGE of the train slowly rumbling up Beacon Street while STIBBONS runs like crazy on foot. Finally the train arrives at Coolidge Corner and it's time for a showdown. The culprit gets off the train.)
STIBBONS (leaping over the railing): STOP! LITTERER!
(The CULPRIT takes one look at STIBBONS and breaks into a run, only to be flattened in the intersection by a PASSING 66 BUS. STIBBONS reaches into the train, collects the discarded COPY OF THE METRO, and places it mockingly on the fellow's face, obscuring his MASSIVE HEAD WOUND.)
STIBBONS: You forgot this.
LATER, BACK AT HEADQUARTERS...
CHIEF: I'm proud of you, Stibbons, you tracked down another Metro litterer. Here, have this wheelbarrow full of gold bullion, courtesy the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.
STIBBONS: Thanks, Chief. But shouldn't these funds go towards a better cause, like train maintenance, track repairs and some much-needed infrastructure?
(There is an AWKWARD PAUSE. The CHIEF glares at STIBBONS.)
STIBBONS: Just messing with ya, Charlie. Come on, everybody, drinks are on me!
OFFICE: Yaaaay!
NEXT WEEK, ON METRO NEWSPAPER SURVEILLANCE SQUAD...
CHIEF: Stibbons, look at this Red Line camera shot. Notice anything unusual?
STIBBONS: That lady's leaving a Boston NOW! on the floor. But that paper hasn't been around for months...
CHIEF: ...OR HAS IT?
Collect your prize
You, sir, have won the interwebs.