Texting T driver could face charges

The driver of a Green Line trolley that slammed into another train on Friday has been identified as 24-year-old Aiden Quinn, sources told FOX25. Quinn could face criminal charges after he admitted he was texting his girlfriend at the time of the crash, which injured dozens of people, MBTA officials said.

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Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials said he rear-ended another westbound trolley while traveling about 9 mph near the Government Center station at 7:18 p.m.

Officials said the front train was stopped at a red light and was pushed forward about 30 feet.

One hundred people were on the trains at the time of the crash.

Some riders were able to walk out of the station on their own. Others were taken out on stretchers. Many were bruised and bloody.

"There was a little bit of panic. The lights all went out," said Mike Joy, a Chicago resident on his first trip to Boston. "A guy in front of me was bleeding. He cut his head pretty bad."

Forty six people were taken to area hospitals. Officials said none of the injuries were life-threatening. All of the injured that were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital had been released by Saturday morning, the hospital said.

Quinn is a two-year employee of the MBTA and had 22 months of training, according to officials. He suffered a broken wrist in the accident.

MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskus said Quinn tried to make a phone call before attempting to send the texts.

Grabauskus said Quinn will likely be fired if the investigation shows that he was breaking MBTA rules by using his phone. 

In May of last year, cell phone use was considered a possible cause for a fatal MBTA accident in Newton. It was eventually ruled out, but it led to the MBTA examining its policy.

"After the incident last year, we reissued and augmented our policy with our employees. We let our employees know that there is a zero-tolerance policy for the use of any kind of electronic devices," MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskus said. "It's difficult for me to contain my outrage at hearing this."

Grabauskus said they are considering increasing the penalties for cell phone use while driving.

Both trains were derailed and the damage to the trains was described as “severe.” The damage is estimated at $9.6 million.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigation shows there was no problem with the rails and there were no mechanical errors.

The Government Center station has been re-opened.