Trolleys collide in Boston; 46 people hurt

BOSTON — A trolley rear-ended another trolley that was stopped between two underground stations in downtown Boston on Friday night, injuring about 50 people, and one of the conductors told police he was texting at the time of the crash, officials said.

About 100 people were evacuated, and 46 were taken to area hospitals, but officials said their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The operator of the moving trolley, who was the most seriously injured, admitted to police that he was sending text messages when the accident occurred, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Dan Grabauskas said.

Grabauskas said it was difficult “to contain my outrage” about the conductor’s admission.

The injured trolley operator walked out of the train and was taken to the hospital in stable condition, Grabauskas said.

Most of the victims suffered cuts or skeletal injuries, said John Gill, deputy superintendent of Boston EMS. Two people had chest pains.

Some passengers had to be extracted from the trains, deputy fire chief Richard DiBenedetto said. Others were taken from the station on stretchers or backboards.

The collision occurred at 7:18 p.m. between Park and Government Center stations. A westbound two-car trolley was stopped at a red signal, waiting to enter Park Station, when it was hit by another two-car trolley.

The damage was limited to the front of the moving train and the rear of the train that was struck, Grabauskas said.

An investigation will try to determine why the moving trolley did not stop. Grabauskas had no estimates on how fast it was traveling.

Green Line service between the stations was shut down after the crash.