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Operator Error Possible Cause In Collision Of MBTA Trolleys

DORCHESTER (CBS) - Two MBTA trolleys collided in Dorchester early Wednesday morning, leaving seven people hurt.

It happened on the Mattapan Line near the Butler Street and Cedar Grove stations just before 7 a.m.

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MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said an out-of-service train with no passengers made contact with another trolley full of commuters.

A source with knowledge of the investigation told WBZ-TV investigators are looking closely at operator error as a possible cause.

Seven people - five passengers and two trolley operators – were taken to the hospital. Others suffered minor injuries like cuts, bumps and bruises.

One passenger said some people had "busted lips" after the crash.

"It was like a really like a sudden jolt and everybody just, everybody went forward," said Shaquaya Lewis, who was taking the trolley on her way to work.

Many passengers said it felt as if the train was hit head-on.

They were evacuated from the trolley, some holding ice packs, as they walked about a quarter-mile from the collision site to Cedar Grove station.

Shuttle buses replaced train service from Ashmont to Mattapan.

Trolley Collision
Passengers waiting at Cedar Grove after the trolley collision. (Photo credit: Chris McKinnon-WBZ-TV)

Both trains were removed from the scene around 8:30 a.m. and regular service resumed a short time later after a nearly two-hour delay.

No other information is available at this point in the investigation.

WBZ-TV's Chris McKinnon contributed to this report.

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