Fatal Train Crash Caused by Human Error

Jenny Albano

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A crash that occurred last year was found to be caused by human error and failure to follow safety procedures by the National Transportation Safety Board. The collision of a commuter train and a maintenance truck took the lives of two track workers in Woburn.

The crash occurred on Jan. 9, 2007, when the engineer of southbound Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Train 322 received a clear signal as he passed a curve in the tracks at 62 miles per hour, officials said. When the engineer saw the track maintenance vehicle, officials said, he slammed on the breaks and hit the truck at 44 miles per hour, killing James Zipps, the track engineer, and maintenance worker Christopher Macaulay. Maintenance workers John Hickey and Edwin Olson were seriously injured.

Investigators found that the train dispatcher failed to provide proper signaling because he had removed the block on the track segment where the crew was working, which means that it is clear for the train to enter the tracks. They also found that the track foreman did not apply a shunting device to the tracks, which would have kept the signals red regardless of the dispatcher's actions. In addition to this, investigators found that the track engineer that died in the collision tested positive for marijuana.

The report from the investigation recommended that all railroads check their train-dispensing systems to make sure they are safe and should add signal protection to stop similar train accidents from occurring. The NTSB also wants to broaden requirements for employee drug testing and promote prevention of alcohol and drugs.