Officials say operator error is focus of Red Line investigation

BOSTON — The MBTA is investigating a 'serious incident' on the Red Line after a train departed without an operator Thursday.

The train left Braintree Station Thursday morning just before 6:10 a.m. without an operator, MBTA officials report. The train made no station stops and headed past North Quincy Station, where MBTA operators were able to bring the train to a complete stop by de-powering the third rail.

Passengers say they were worried when the train bypassed stops.

"Then on the second stop at Quincy Center, just went through very high speed. Became worried," one passenger said.

T officials boarded the train and operated it to the JFK/UMass stop, where passengers were asked to exit on to the platform. The train was taken out of service and examined.

No passengers were injured.

FOX25 tracked down one man who says he broke the operator compartment door open and discovered nobody was driving the train. The rider who finally got the operator door open says he saw a microphone and cord wrapped around the train's controller. He shared a photo with us that investigators are now using.

Another woman who was on the train told FOX25 that she went into the booth where the conductor sits and saw something tied around the control panel. The passenger said the train went through several stations without stopping and that the lights went out.

The woman told FOX25 that no announcements were made while the 20-25 passengers were on board.

She said that passengers were told that the conductor who got off the train was taken to the hospital with burn injuries. FOX25 has confirmed that the train operator was struck by the train and has a minor injury. A source tells us that the name of the conductor was David Vazquez and he's been treated and released from the hospital.

Investigators are looking into an initial report that a safety device within the train's cab may have been tampered with. Witnesses and the train operator are being interviewed.

The FBI told FOX25 they are aware of the incident and are in contact with transit police.

At a news conference at about 4 p.m. officials said the investigation is focused on operator error. The train has been impounded and will be throughout the investigation.

At about 8:30 p.m., the MBTA tweeted saying that they were still experiencing delays due a signal problem in Braintree.

FOX25's Ted Daniel called Vazquez and knocked on his door, but there was no sign or word from him Thursday night. The 52-year-old that sources identify as the MBTA operator is under investigation for the runaway train.

Cox Media Group