June 26, 2008 MBTA suspends driver for sleeping

BOSTON (AP) - The MBTA has suspended a driver who reportedly fell asleep at the wheel less than a month after a deadly trolley crash killed another operator.

An agency spokesman said Wednesday that the driver, whom the agency did not identify, can't return to work before passing an exam proving "fitness of duty."

Boston Magazine first reported that a driver on the C branch of the Green Line was repeatedly drifting off to sleep on June 17.

A rush hour crash on the Green Line with another trolley May 28 killed one driver and severely injured a passenger.

The Boston Magazine staffer said a customer service representative was dismissive when she complained, and the agency's police chief wasn't told of the incident.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority spokeswoman Lydia Rivera said the customer service employee will be disciplined.

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