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Operator Of Driverless Train In Boston Fired

www.mbta.com

 

The operator of a driverless train that rumbled through several stations before transit workers stopped it by cutting power to the rails has been fired.

A lawyer for 53-year-old David Vazquez says Wednesday he plans to appeal the decision by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

The move comes one day after investigators looking into the incident recommended Vazquez be fired.

The driverless train left a suburban Boston station Thursday morning. No passengers were injured.

Transit officials said Vazquez got off the train to put it into "bypass mode" to override a signal problem. They said the emergency brake wasn't engaged and were looking at whether the throttle had been tied back with a cord.

Philip Gordon, a lawyer representing Vazquez, said he denies tying a cord around the throttle.

©2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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