Shocking video footage showed the moment a San Francisco Muni train operator appeared to fall asleep before crashing into another train.
The July 31 collision shattered the train's windshield and seemingly jolted the driver awake as he plowed into another locomotive ahead of him.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) confirmed that two passengers were aboard the train and thankfully walked away unscathed.
The crash happened around 8.30am near 47th Avenue and Wawona Street, just north of the San Francisco Zoo.
The SFMTA also confirmed that the crash involved two L Taraval trains.
The driver has not yet been identified but has been removed from his role pending an investigation.
'This type of incident is simply unacceptable,' said Director of transportation Julie Kirschbaum in a statement.
'While the formal investigation of the collision is ongoing, vehicle and infrastructure issues have been ruled out, and the initial determination for the incident is operator error caused by fatigue.'
A train driver appeared to fall asleep at the wheel of a San Francisco Muni train before it crashed into another locomotive
The crash happened on July 31 around 8.30 am near 47th Avenue and Wawona Street, just north of the San Francisco Zoo
According to SFMTA operating guidelines, Muni Metro trains normally run under an automated control system that manages speed while underground.
But L Taraval trains are surface segments that rely on manual driving and physical deadman control switches.
If an operator loses focus, there is no automated backstop to slow or stop the train on its own.
The crash is the second time in less than a year that an incident like this has occurred on a Muni train.
On September 24 last year, passengers were jolted when a train operator seemed to fall asleep at the controls on a two-car North Judah light rail train.
The operator crashed after navigating a curve at more than 50 miles per hour near East Portal tunnel at Duboce Avenue toward downtown San Francisco.
The driver was immediately put on non-driving status while an investigation was conducted.
An SFMTA spokesperson told ABC 7 Eyewitness News regarding that incident: 'Our investigation ruled out mechanical failure and determined the cause of the incident to be operator fatigue.'
The collision shattered the train's windshield and seemingly jolted the driver awake before he halted the vehicle to a stop
The crash is the second time in less than a year that an incident like this has occurred on a Muni train. Both accidents came just two years after SFMTA launch of the L Taraval Improvement Project that aimed to make a safer, more accessible experience for all passengers
Both accidents came just two years after SFMTA's launch of the L Taraval Improvement Project that aimed to make a safer, more accessible experience for all passengers.
The latest collision has renewed scrutiny over working patterns within the SFMTA.
District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong told NBC News: the crash was 'unacceptable to happen in our city.'
Other everyday commuters shared similar concerns.
'I really hope the bus drivers are taking care of themselves and but also that SFMTA is taking care of their employees,' said Jade Tu, a San Francisco resident who spoke to reporters.
According to California Public Utilities Commission, light rail operators in safety-sensitive roles are capped at 12 consecutive hours of work, or 12 hours within a 16-hour period.
They are required to have at least eight consecutive off-duty hours before a shift begins.
However, 91 percent of transit operators worked overtime in 2024, according to data from public database Transportation California.
Thankfully neither of the two passengers on board the train were injured in the collision and the driver walked off unscathed
Overtime is often structured by adding up to four hours to an existing shift which could lead to 12-hour shifts.
Following last year's crash, the SFMTA has introduced regularly scheduled fatigue awareness education campaigns with its employees.
The SFMTA use random video reviews to ensure that operators are following the rules at all times.
The Daily Mail has contacted the labor union representing the Muni Train operators for more information. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
