June 3, 2008 MBTA operators warned about using cell phones

BOSTON (AP) - MBTA operators are being warned about using cell phones on duty.

The warning comes after last week's fatal Green Line trolley crash in Newton. Federal investigators are trying to determine if the operator of the trolley, Terrese Edmonds, was using a cell phone around the time of the accident.

Edmonds was killed and about a dozen passengers were hurt.

MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas said as recently as January that he fired an MBTA employee for violating the cell phone policy.

A first offense results in a three day suspension and a second offense brings a ten-day suspension. A third offense is cause for dismissal.

Investigators have ruled out problems with the track, the signals and brakes as a cause for the accident and said nothing was blocking Edmonds view.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)