Red Line Operator Working While Man Dragged To Death On Unpaid Leave

BOSTON — The operator of a Red Line train that caused the death of a passenger whose arm got stuck in the door while exiting is now on unpaid leave, an MBTA spokesperson confirmed.

The unidentified operator was initially on paid leave following the death of Robinson Lalin, 39, of Dorchester, back in April but was changed to unpaid leave on Monday, the Boston Globe first reported, saying this decision was "pending final disciplinary action."

The MBTA said the employee had been hired in 2018 and was originally placed on paid leave while the investigation took place.

Lalin's death sparked a federal investigation into the MBTA's safety, which started with investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board saying they found a fault in the local door control system that allowed the train to move with the doorway obstructed - something a safety feature the MBTA says should have prevented but didn't.

Read more: MBTA Safety Under Review Following Red Line Dragging Death

Between Lalin's death and countless safety incidents circling around the MBTA, the Federal Transit Administration then issued a series of special directives for the rail system and its oversight agency to "remedy safety concerns and improve the MBTA's safety culture."

The MBTA and Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities were then ordered to take "immediate action," which included slashing subway service for the summer when officials found that the MBTA's Operations Control Center was "not appropriately staffed" thus creating "an increased safety risk."

To fix this, the MBTA is ordered to make sure all staff members are properly certified and have enough time between shifts, and are not too tired, or working multiple roles at once.

Some of the "emergency safety issues" flagged by the FTA were that some MBTA employees were ordered to work 20-hour shifts with only four hours off in between them due to the recent staffing shortage.

The MBTA says they are working to hire new dispatchers through recruiting processes, including bonuses and bringing back former employees.

Related:

• MBTA Ordered To Take 'Immediate Action' On Safety Issues: FTA
• MBTA Safety Under Review Following Red Line Dragging Death
• Dorchester Man Dies After Being Dragged By Red Line Train
• 9 Sent To Hospital After Escalator Incident At Back Bay Station
• Milton Man Dies After Falling From Stairs Near MBTA Station
• Red Line Service Resumes After Derailment At Broadway Station
• All New MBTA Orange Line Trains Pulled Out Of Service Thursday