Boston transit agency suspends first driver for carrying cell phone after post-crash ban

Boston motorman suspended for having cell phone

BOSTON — The Boston area’s transportation agency has suspended its first driver for violating a new cell phone ban.

Spokesman Joe Pesaturo (pes-AH’-tuhr-oh) says a 35-year-old driver was suspended last week. A supervisor spotted him wearing a wireless headset after he got off a train last week.

Pesaturo says the motorman later acknowledged having a phone that connects with the headset but said the phone was turned off.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority implemented the ban after a May trolley crash that injured nearly 50 people. It was allegedly caused by a driver who was text-messaging.

(This version CORRECTS that the driver was wearing a headset when the supervisor encountered him, instead of having one in his bag.)