Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 14, 2009
Metro takes disciplinary action against two Metrobus operators
Metrobus operators dismissed following recent incidents
Metro has dismissed two Metrobus operators and re-instructed a third following recent incidents.
On Saturday, July 25, a Metrobus operator employed since June 2007, refused to allow a customer to exit a bus after a verbal dispute on board a bus in Prince George’s County, MD. The incident occurred on board a D14 route to the Southern Avenue Metrorail station. The operator was arrested by the Metro Transit Police and charged with kidnapping, a felony. The operator was placed on paid administrative leave during an internal Metro investigation and was fired this week.
On Thursday, July 30, a Metrobus operator employed since April 2000, was arrested for driving with a suspended license following a bus accident with an automobile at Good Hope Road and 25th Street in Southeast Washington. The automobile driver was charged for failing to yield the right of way, however, during the investigation, Metropolitan Police discovered that the operator who was driving a 92 route to the Congress Heights Metrorail station, was driving with a suspended license. The operator was placed on paid administrative leave during an internal Metro investigation and was fired this week.
On Tuesday, July 28, a Metrobus operator since April 2007, was alleged to have been using a cell phone while operating a route 63 near the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metrorail station. During the investigation, it was determined that the bus operator used a personal cell phone to report a mechanical problem with the bus. The internal Metro investigation revealed that the bus was stopped and secured when the operator communicated with Central Control and she did not operate the bus while on the phone. She has been re-instructed regarding operating procedures and returned to service.
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Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 3:27 pm, August 14, 2009.