Video Appears to Show MUNI Driver Asleep at Controls During ‘Frightening’ September Incident

Minutes before the N Judah train barrelled through a stop in September, rattling passengers and prompting a state investigation, the driver was leaned back in the operator’s booth with her head down, snapping to attention after the train jolted passengers at top speed.

Seconds before the train began to take a series of curves at high speeds, causing commotion and knocking over riders, video footage obtained by KQED shows the operator appearing to drift off, her head falling forward. Minutes earlier, at a stop, she appeared leaned over, with her head resting on the control board.

The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency said in a statement that it had confirmed that the error was a result of “operator fatigue.” It said it was “addressing the matter in accordance with internal protocols and the relevant contract, which included placing the operator on nondriving status.”

“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.”

On Sept. 24, riders aboard the N Judah headed east had their usual morning commute upended after the train sped through its Duboce Ave. and Noe Street stop at the east end of the Sunset Tunnel, instead picking up speed and merging onto Duboce Avenue before halting abruptly about a half block later.

Riders told KQED at the time that they were prepared to crash or derail as seconds seemed to pass without any effort to slow the vehicle down.

The video shows the train picking up significant speed in the tunnel, reaching 50 miles per hour just before it emerged. As its track veers right, passengers were jolted to the left. Some yelled out as the conductor appeared to come to attention and repeatedly press a button on the control board. Over the next few seconds, the train speed slows, dropping to about 25 miles per hour before it reaches the road and cuts off a car driving west.

Muni’s average speed is between eight and 10 miles per hour.

“I had people fall on me as we were going around the first curve. There were a couple loud yells, but then the train didn’t really stop immediately,” Jack Logar, who was on his way to work downtown, told KQED at the time. “It definitely seemed like for at least five seconds, maybe longer, the train was just flying.”

Once the vehicle comes to a stop in front of Duboce Park Cafe, video footage shows the operator enter the front car, saying repeatedly that the vehicle “wouldn’t stop” and that the “emergency brake wouldn’t even hit.”

“I’m sorry. Relax, relax, relax,” she says in the footage. Later, speaking to another Muni employee, she says she was trying to slow down the train as it was emerging from the tunnel, but that it continued to pick up speed.

Muni said shortly after the incident that its preliminary investigation found no issues with the train, first raising questions of human error. The agency confirmed Monday that the braking system performed as designed.

It also said it has reinforced existing training on watching for signs of fatigue, and was beginning to work with manufacturers or software that could limit speeds in specific locations.

“It’s really, really concerning,” Kenny Sandon, who was on board, said Monday. “I really hope this is like a smoking gun for Muni to take action and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”