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Video Shows Muni Operator Nodding Off Before L Taraval Trains Collide

SFMTA's preliminary finding — operator fatigue — prompts a regulator-led review.

Overview

  • Two L Taraval trains collided near 47th Avenue and Wawona on July 31 after one rear-ended the other and shattered its cab windshield; no injuries were reported.
  • Onboard footage released from NorCal Bodycam appears to show the operator nodding off for about 20 seconds and being jolted awake by the impact.
  • SFMTA says its initial determination rules out vehicle and infrastructure failure and attributes the crash to operator error caused by fatigue while the formal investigation continues.
  • The operator has been placed on non-driving status and SFMTA says it has increased random video reviews and added rest time on shifts as it coordinates the review with the California Public Utilities Commission.
  • The crash follows a similar fatigue-related Muni incident in September 2025, raising questions about scheduling, monitoring and whether broader policy or operational changes are needed to prevent repeat human-error events.