Operator, passengers injured when MBTA trolley derails and hits another train

By Sarah N. Mattero, Globe Correspondent

A Green Line trolley derailed this afternoon, striking another empty trolley and sending the operator and a few passengers to the hospital with minor injuries, the MBTA said.

The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on the E Line between the Brigham Circle and Longwood Medical Area stops, said Joe Pesaturo, a MBTA spokesman.

Both trolleys were two-car trains and each has suffered significant damage, Pesaturo said.

“Preliminary investigations show that this was a case of human error,” Pesaturo said in a phone interview, citing that a switch was not in the proper position at a crossover section on the tracks, leading to the derailment. “It had nothing to do with the equipment or the vehicle.”

About two-dozen people were onboard the outbound train and three were taken to the hospital after reporting neck and back pain. The operator taken to the hospital was driving one of the cars on of the trolley that was struck by the empty vehicle, Pesaturo said.

“The outbound trail is completely derailed, it’s going to take a lot of time to get it on the rails,” Pesaturo said.

Bus service will be provided between Northeastern and Heath Street for the remainder of the evening, he said. As of 6:30 p.m., the eastbound side of Huntington Avenue is open while the westbound side will remain closed until the train is rerailed, Pesaturo said.

Passengers can expect regular E line service on Tuesday morning, added Pesaturo.