A CTA worker has been fired after the train he was operating struck and killed a 37-year-old woman who was trying to retriever her cellphone from Red Line tracks at the 69th Street stop.
According to the agency, the unidentified worker was not looking at the tracks while he approached the station before the June 27 collision. A video, released by the agency, shows the man waving at a person outside of the train before the collision, then him bringing the train to a stop after the incident.
"The actions depicted in this video do not reflect the majority of the hardworking men and women of the CTA," the agency said in a statement. "This employee's behavior is unacceptable and in violation of CTA policy and procedures. CTA has terminated the operator."
The agency said in a press release that their investigation involved interviewing witnesses and employees and reviewing available video of the incident. Investigators say that the employee violated company guidelines, including attention to duty and safe train operations before the incident.
According to Chicago police, 37-year-old Felon Smith dropped her phone at the 69th Street station at approximately 12:40 p.m. on June 27. Smith climbed down onto the tracks to get it, and was hit by an approaching northbound train, authorities said.
She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death was ruled an accident after an autopsy by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
