Employees placed on leave after Chicago train accident injures 14

Four Chicago Transit Authority employees have been placed on unpaid leave, the Chicago Tribune reported, after a weekend Chicago train accident sent at least 14 people to the hospital.

The Sun-Times reported that 14 of the train’s 48 passengers were taken by ambulances to area hospitals.

Transit officials have blamed the Green Line train derailment on a missed “stop” signal, causing the northbound train to jump the tracks at the 59th Street junction shortly before noon on Saturday, December 12th.

“The investigation is still under way, but the preliminary indication is human error,” a CTA spokesperson said. “The equipment — signals, train and track — all appeared to be working properly.”

Both operators aboard the train, a supervisor overseeing the shuttle operation and a control-tower employee were removed from service pending the outcome of the investigation, the CTA reported.

The Sun-Times reported the same junction was the site of a Chicago train derailment last May, which also sent 14 people to the hospital. The National Transportation Safety Board has yet to conclude its investigation in that case, the preliminary finding was also operator error.