The two motor persons who operated the Green Line train that ran over and maimed a college student last month have been taken off the job, the MBTA said.
Both train operators were “taken out of service” while an investigation into the crash proceeds, T spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said, adding that this is standard operating procedure for accidents involving injuries.
The involved employees were not disciplined, are still being paid, and will return to their positions if cleared for service following the investigation into the Jan. 27 incident, Pesaturo said.
“The streetcar motor persons were relieved of duty and a fact finding was conducted for this event,” said Asia Williams, the T’s deputy director of safety investigations, during an MBTA subcommittee meeting Thursday.
Williams did not provide much information during the safety update, only describing the victim’s injuries as “non-life-threatening,” but did continue to deflect blame away from the MBTA.
The collision occurred after the student, identified by her family and friends as 20-year-old Ava Harlow of Amesbury, fell “and subsequently collided with the second car of the trolley” while it was leaving Boston University Central station, shortly before 11:30 p.m, Williams said.
Days after the incident, which cost Harlow part of her leg and left her with a fractured skull, Transit Police said it “did not appear to be the result of any mechanical or MBTA employee failure.”
Spokesperson Richard Sullivan said Thursday that Transit Police “are not viewing this as a criminal matter at this time.”
Ava’s father, Andrew Harlow, told the Herald last week that the train operator could have seen that his daughter was banging on the side of the car — to try to alert her friends who were still on board — and not pulled away, but said he wasn’t “at liberty” to comment on whether the operator or T was at fault.
Andrew Harlow said Thursday that he has to be careful and therefore doesn’t want to comment much on the matter at this time, but did say of the new development, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
He said his daughter is in “pain, agony” and has needed surgeries every other day. Her lower left leg was amputated below the knee, and she sustained a broken leg, broken right arm and crushed pelvis.
Ava doesn’t want to see anyone, her father said, but does plan to continue her studies. She’s currently enrolled at Bridgewater State University, where she’s studying criminal justice with a goal of landing a job at the Department of Homeland Security.
“She was keeping a really brave face,” Harlow said. “I can’t believe how strong she is. And it’s bad for her. I think she hadn’t realized what it was. It’s dawning on her that her whole life has been changed forever, and it’s hard for a 20-year-old when you’re invincible. Most 20-year-olds are invincible.”