Subway car driver being investigated
Text messages have a time and place.
Don’t worry, Aiden Quinn’s $9.6 million text message isn’t a sign that you may need to change cell phone service providers. It’s a sign that you should not write text messages while driving.
You should especially not write text messages while driving public transportation — especially when it involves a packed subway car.
Incident report
Aiden Quinn was the driver of an underground Green Line trolley in Massachusetts that ran into another trolley car on Friday. Aiden Quinn is the possible subject of a criminal investigation.
According to Gizmodo:
Quinn actually admitted to first responders that he was texting his girlfriend at the time of the crash because she wouldn’t answer his initial call (which he also made, presumably, while driving a packed subway train).
Who will foot the bill?
The Associated Press says the crash happened when Aiden Quinn ran a red light. Dozens of passengers were sent to the hospital. Patients might have to take out personal loans for the time being to cover medical costs, but if charges are filed against Aiden Quinn and he is found guilty, he might be held responsible for those medical bills.
About 50 people were injured, but reports say none of the injuries are life-threatening. In addition to injuring several passengers, the crash also closed down a busy section of the Green Line route.
Why $9.6 million?
The cost of damages to Green Line property alone add up to $9.6 million, according to Gizmodo. It will take a lengthy trial, no doubt, to find out how much Aiden Quinn will be held accountable for in the end.
The company could very well end up being the target of a lawsuit rather than Aiden Quinn. After all, 24-year-old Aiden Quinn likely will not be able to come up with the cash to cover 50 hospital visits.
Professional driver material?
Much attention now is being focused on the Massachusetts public transportation company that hired Aiden Quinn and then kept him employed, even though he had several moving violations on his driving record.
At issue are whether Aiden Quinn should have kept his job after the first crash and whether the company should have hired a driver who already had three speeding tickets on his personal driving record.
A similar incident
The company is being further scrutinized because of a fatal accident less than a year ago, in which a Green Line operator was killed. In that case, the driver was also 24 years old and also ran through a red light.
Several passengers were seriously injured in that crash, and the driver, Ther’rese Edmonds, died.
By the numbers
People are also questioning whether age should be a factor in determining whether someone is allowed to drive public transportation. From Boston.com:
“I think, at a minimum, it should be looked at,” said Senator Mark C. Montigny, a New Bedford Democrat who serves on the Legislature’s Transportation Committee. “The irony is, in some places you can’t even rent a car if you’re under 25.”
That’s a heck of a costly text message. I seem to remember hearing about a lot of states making it illegal to even talk on the phone while driving, nevermind texting. Some states have made it legal to talk on the phone only via bluetooth while driving, but no text messages. Driving a TRAIN applies, in fact even more so. But putting him on the hook rather than the company that hired him is a bit ridiculous, in one way. Remember the Exxon Valdez? Exxon hired a drunk and let him drive a tanker. Granted, Capt. Joe (Jim, Jack, or Johnny are probably more appropriate) is still responsible for what happened, but he was hired nonetheless, and so was this guy by someone who would have found out about the potential risks. This is the way that class actions start.
I agree that age often times fosters a level of maturity. Our church does not allow anybody under 26 drive one of its vans.
Funny Thing Is the the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority hires from a lottery system. Fact is Aiden Quinn is a very Kind Girl. I say Girl because thats what she was born as. Her name was Georgia Quinn. Back in 2004 she wanted to drive my then Girlfriend to her new apartment across state. The car rental agency wouldn’t allow it because she was under 25. Funn,and now the T lets her drive a $2 million dollar trolley car,and then crashes it. It sucks, and i think all drivers should be atleast 25 just like most car rental places. Texting during driving is simply a dumb move. Fortunately noone died. And the T has plenty of other qualified drivers.
Was it necessary to add that Aiden was born a female? Does that have ANY impact on what happened??? Yes, he (and I say HE becuz that is what he goes by) made a horrible mistake…however it is one that THOUSANDS of others make daily! He just happened to have a tragic outcome that played out in the media! Whether the driver was a guy, a girl or a friggen’ alien is of NO significance! Shame on you!
Ah being a girl then wanting to turn into a buy. And living your life as a boy when you are a girl from the beginning presents alot abot a person. Like one said before me this person is obvioulsy having some type of issues to want to have things removed, added etcetc. This person is a few eggs short of a dozen and should never been allowed to operate anything more than a Charlie card machine. Furthermore being 25 typically means a certain maturity, and also usually 8 or so years of driving experience. I hope we tax payer dont get the shaft of paying for this trannys mistake, and that he she it gets the shaft in state prison. By the way for a chubby chick/dude her/his girlfriend is kinda cute. Lol
Good Luck, Georgia!! I hope they go easy on you. No need to make an example of her. I hope the media will leave you alone soon.
Make an example. Like he she boasted on his/her myspace page before deleting it hours after crash. She/he/it wants to make history as the first. Cool let massachusetts the pro gay/bi/whatever state be the first to put a driver in federal prison. Infact lets build a special one just for this person right in the middle or the womens and mens. And then let the prisoner Aiden choose which way to go. Male or female. Very confused person. Poor poor aiden fractured wrist, does that mean no lesbo luvin that night? Let the DA stick it to her/it