HOUSTON—When a Metro bus crashed into a Metro light rail train for the second time in two months, the biggest surprise may have been the apparent lack of surprise from some passengers.
"I’m not surprised because I see how Metro bus drivers… how many times they make mistakes," said one passenger.
Video of Monday’s accident shows the bus driver thrown by the sudden impact of the crash.
Metro officials said a different camera angle shows the light at the intersection was red for ten seconds and two cars on the right had already stopped before the crash.
"It looks like the operator ran the red light," said Metro’s Vice President, Andrew Skabowski.
Skabowski said there was nothing glaring in the driver’s record to indicate she was a bad driver. Out of five accidents she’s had, Metro said she had only been at fault for one, though her record shows she has been disciplined for speeding, as well as turning right on red where it wasn’t allowed.
"Really she’s got a very good record. Metro makes it look worse than it is. But then they charge their drivers for every little thing whether it’s their fault or not," said David Gollinger, president of the Transport Workers Union of America Local 260.
Golinger argues Metro may, in fact, be too strict with its drivers.
He said two accidents at the same intersection at the same time of day in two months is a sign something may be wrong.
And after conversations with the driver, he said she is insistent that the light appeared green.
As part of its investigation, Metro has added a supervisor at the intersection to monitor its bus traffic for anything unusual, still looking for a better explanation of what happened.
