San Francisco, USA – Video from a runaway Muni light-rail incident next to Duboce Park on September 24 shows that the N-Judah train operator likely fell asleep at the controls, moments before terrified passengers began screaming as the train sped out of control.

During the morning commute, the crowded N-Judah flew out of the Sunset Tunnel at East Portal, passed the Noe Street/Duboce Avenue stop without slowing, and surged into oncoming traffic on Duboce Avenue. The train was being operated manually, not by the automated system used underground.

Instead of stopping at Noe Street, the train entered a dangerous S-curve at full speed and continued downhill before finally coming to a halt just short of Sanchez Street.

The video shows passengers boarding earlier at Carl and Cole streets in Cole Valley. The operator is seen hunched over the dashboard with her head resting on her arms as riders step aboard.

When she sits up to run the train, she appears somewhat alert and guides it into the Sunset Tunnel at about 6 miles per hour.

Inside the tunnel, however, the train accelerates to 50 miles per hour. For much of the run, the operator’s eyes appear closed, her head nodding as if she is briefly falling asleep.

As the train emerges into daylight and approaches the S-curve, the operator seems to jolt awake and attempts to slow down. The train does not stop until nearly a block later, narrowly missing a car traveling up Duboce Avenue.

Once the train finally stops, the shaken operator addresses the screaming passengers, saying, “Relax, relax! I’m sorry, relax. We didn’t crash. Relax. Relax. It wouldn’t stop.”

SFMTA initially said it was investigating and assured the public that the “vehicle is mechanically sound and operating properly.”

The agency now confirms the operator has been placed on “non-driving status,” though few additional details have been released.

“We know this was a frightening experience for our riders, and we take that very seriously,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum. “Safety is always our top priority. We are committed to accountability in response to this specific incident, and we are taking all necessary steps to keep Muni safe and reliable for all riders and the public.”

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