Shut name with faculty bus was human error, not practice downside

A crossing gate arm got here down on the hood of a faculty bus in Freetown on Tuesday, transit officers say.

The bus pulled as much as the grade crossing on Braley Street as a practice was approaching, activating the gate’s arm, based on MBTA Chief Security Officer Tim Lesniak.

Though the entrance of the bus was past the cease line, the automobile was nonetheless a protected distance away from the crossing, Lesniak mentioned at an MBTA board assembly on Thursday.

“At no time had been any college students in any hazard,” he mentioned. “The crossing operated as designed.”

The incident was the results of human error, and the crossing’s warning system was functioning correctly, officers confirmed.

The shut name occurred at a grade crossing within the newly opened South Coast Rail territory, which is offering cities and cities in southeastern Massachusetts entry to passenger rail service for the primary time in 65 years. Service started on Monday at six new stations on the Fall River/New Bedford Line.

As a part of establishing the brand new practice service, Lesniak mentioned native bus operators got in depth security coaching.

Following Tuesday’s incident, Lesniak says transit officers are reaching out to native faculties and bus corporations, encouraging them to remind their bus drivers in regards to the security gear at and across the railroad crossings.

The Freetown Lakeville Regional College District didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

 

Lindsay Shachnow covers basic task information for Boston.com, reporting on breaking information, crime, and politics throughout New England.