Glad they could get everything back on track.

Heck, that happened to me once in Tokyo on one of those platforms where it's crammed with people and everyone's pushing and shoving to get on the train--we had luggage and my wife and in-laws barely got on the train (being the gentleman I am,let them go first.) The problem was (since my wife does all the vacation planning) I didn't have a clue where they were going or where we were staying for the night---the horror on my wife's face when they pulled out of the station personified the dilemma.

This happened over a week ago. Must be a slow news day.

I take the train to and from work every weekday. the doors are operated by air, and there is an air dump valve next to each door. Open the valve, and the doors can be opened manually.

There is a hidden valve on the outside as well.

It pays to know where these are.

Who wouldn't take care of a 3 year old in this situation?

But even so, this girl did a nice job, and deserves a pat on the back.

A train operator who ignored the dad's pleas for help has been fired.

Not only should the train operator have been fired, but also criminally charged with the reckless endangerment of a child.

RoyBatty

Have you started digging out any snow in Chicago yet this year? I remember the photo you posted last winter of you in the front of your house hard at work with a shovel in your hand. Maybe this year there won't be as much snow -- keep your fingers crossed!

"A train operator who ignored the dad's pleas for help has been fired.

Not only should the train operator have been fired, but also criminally charged with the reckless endangerment of a child.
#5 | Posted by CalifChris at 2009-11-29 03:39 PM"

Or at least, run out of town on a rail...

A 20 year employee fired, probably losing a fat municipal pension. Couldn't happen to a bigger asshole.

RoyBatty

Have you started digging out any snow in Chicago yet this year? I remember the photo you posted last winter of you in the front of your house hard at work with a shovel in your hand. Maybe this year there won't be as much snow -- keep your fingers crossed!

#6 | Posted by CalifChris at 2009-11-29 03:56 PM

No we haven't had any snow quite yet. Last week there were flurries in the outlying suburbs, but none near my house.

It's just a matter of time though.

Not only should the train operator have been fired, but also criminally charged with the reckless endangerment of a child. -- #5 | Posted by CalifChris

Well, I agree there should have been a reckless endangerment charge, but disagree about who should have been charged.

I am really tired of parents' blaming everyone but themselves for their screwups. The child was three years old. When I was that age, my parents would have had a death grip on my hand/wrist/arm while getting off a train.

Watching children is not the train conductors' job. He's being fired for PR reasons -- a real travesty -- while the irresponsible father goes scot-free.

Phoenix,

Did you read the part about malfunctioning doors? If they start closing do you want the dad to loose a hand trying to hold his daughers hand as the door closes on it?

I don't know if there was anything the conductor could have done though so I am not sure firing is warranted other than as a PR move.

Did you read the part about malfunctioning doors? If they start closing do you want the dad to loose a hand trying to hold his daughers hand as the door closes on it? -- #11 | Posted by TaoWarrior

I just watched the video, and still think the father was irresponsible. On the one hand, you're right, the doors closed more quickly than they should have, and on the father's arm. On the other hand, the father was WAY behind his child -- he's lucky his son didn't step under the train.

FWIW, though, my niece thinks my Mom and I are way overprotective -- she's in college, and we STILL grab her arm when we're crossing a street with her.

Some interesting side-notes:

(1) TriMet fired the driver instead of acknowledging its own negligence in not repairing problems with the intercom system:

Well as far as your #13 goes like I said I agree that the firing is mostly PR and those posts make me think even more so.

However I think blaming the dad is a bit harsh here but yeah he could have been more protective and should have been.

The train was tested and the alarms worked so the conductor was ignoring the alarms. Even if the dad was irresponsible the conductor was derelict in his duties which is grounds for termination.

"But earlier this week, a TriMet review of the train's database and tests during a re-creation of the incident showed that the intercom was functioning, activating both audible and visual cues in the train's cabin. Cooper apparently ignored those cues, Fetsch said."

However I think blaming the dad is a bit harsh... -- #14 | Posted by TaoWarrior

Well, I probably went too far by suggesting that he should be charged with criminal negligence.

It eats at me, though, that the driver has been made a scapegoat, and the parent gets to play the victim card and deny any responsibility.

Phoenix how do you disregard the driver not responding to alarms.

...a TriMet review of the train's database and tests during a re-creation of the incident showed that the intercom was functioning, activating both audible and visual cues... -- #15 | Posted by jackass

Doesn't this sound suspiciously like TriMet is trying to dodge a lawsuit? How can you "re-create" the incident to test whether an intermittent problem could have been at fault?!

Like at sea, the driver is the captain of the train and everyone's safety is his/her responsibility. Its in the job description. If he doesn't like the responsibility, he can quit.

Doesn't this sound suspiciously like TriMet is trying to dodge a lawsuit? How can you "re-create" the incident to test whether an intermittent problem could have been at fault?!

#18 | Posted by Phoenix

You test several hundred times to see if the intercom fails. I doubt they tested it only a few times. Firing is serious business. They had to make sure he was negligent.

Phoenix how do you disregard the driver not responding to alarms. -- #17 | Posted by jackass

Check the article linked to "ignored the dad's please for help":

Union president Jon Hunt accused TriMet of misleading the public, saying the union's own investigation indicates the train's two-way communication system did not work.

"No alert whatsoever appeared in the operator's cab," Hunt said. "We had two supervisors go out there the day this happened, and both confirmed they were having problems with that train's intercom system."

In fact, Hunt said, TriMet's new Type 4 trains continue to exhibit problems with malfunctioning doors, ramps and intercom buttons....

Initially, Cooper claimed he was unaware that the emergency intercom had been pushed and the agency assumed that a malfunction had caused the problem, TriMet said.

After TriMet made the preceding announcement, an earlier story surfaced in which faulty intercom systems were suspected in a case where a child was stranded.

In other words, TriMet changed its story when it looked like it could be slapped with a big negligence suit. And again, I don't see how a "re-creation" could establish that there wasn't an intermittent problem with the intercom system.

Like at sea, the driver is the captain of the train and everyone's safety is his/her responsibility... -- #19 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine

Somehow I doubt TriMet drivers are paid well enough to be held responsible for mechanical failures or irresponsible parents.

The union will file a lawsuit and the equipment will be a 3rd party source. Either trimet or the union is lying. I'll just have to wait and see.

Somehow I doubt TriMet drivers are paid well enough to be held responsible for mechanical failures or irresponsible parents.

#22 | Posted by Phoenix

I won't argue that they are paid enough to do that, but its still in their job description.

Aren't the drivers supposed to perform routine safety inspections? Or don't they have maintenance doing daily checks? I would think they would know if there was a problem and not have faulty trains running.

Coolforsale please go away.

#25... this mother (#%&($*&#@@....

on topic, I ride the subways every day, and before leaving the station, the conductor always sticks his head out the window to be sure that nobody has a limb sticking out the door or that somebody is not running frantically to get him/her to stop the train. Why didn't this happen here.

Doesn't this sound suspiciously like TriMet is trying to dodge a lawsuit?

#18 | Posted by Phoenix

A lawsuit; for what?---pain and suffering? lost wages for the 3 year old?---I would just be glad I got my kid back and if I received a heart felt apology from the conductor that would be a bonus--and if it was heart-felt and he had a long record of good job-performance I would ask them to reconsider the firing--there is something (I think) still called forgiveness in this world--

?

I ride the subways every day, and before leaving the station, the conductor always sticks his head out the window to be sure that nobody has a limb sticking out the door or that somebody is not running frantically to get him/her to stop the train. Why didn't this happen here. -- #28 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine

Watch the video. A full 7 seconds elapsed between the time the door closed (because the kid hit the button activating the handicap ramp) and the time the driver pulled away. There would have been nothing for the driver to see.

The other thing you'll notice if you watch the video is that the little boy is practically dragging his Dad out the door. Doesn't look like the Dad was paying attention at all -- talking to someone on the train or something.

Sorry, but it irks me that this father has not taken ANY responsibility for what happened -- and didn't even get the name of the woman who watched the child for him so that he could thank her!

A 20 year employee fired, probably losing a fat municipal pension. Couldn't happen to a bigger asshole.

Don't worry, his union will pay for arbitration, appeals, etc., likely costing the taxpayers tens of thousands in legal fees.

?

Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2009-11-29 08:46 PM | Reply| Flag: THOUGHT HEADLINE WAS CODE FOR ABORTION

Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2009-11-29 08:46 PM | Reply| Flag: THOUGHT HEADLINE WAS CODE FOR ABORTION
#34 | Posted by The_Chapel

FF, you asshole.

Happy Holidays.

I am sorry but the Dad is responsible for the childs safety while in His custody. He should have been paying more atytention to His kid and the boarding of the train to make sure they had ample time to board together.

Larry

I blame the mother. Should have known the dad couldn't handle the kid. When I was three, my father was pretty much not allowed to take me out on his own because I was a little brat who was always getting into stuff and my mother didn't think he watched me closely enough. ;)

I am sorry but the Dad is responsible for the childs safety while in His custody. He should have been paying more atytention to His kid and the boarding of the train to make sure they had ample time to board together.

Larry

#35 | Posted by LarryMohr

Amen

It eats at me, though, that the driver has been made a scapegoat, and the parent gets to play the victim card and deny any responsibility.

#16 | Posted by Phoenix

Why should that bother you? The driver obviously had no desire to help this father reunite with his very young child. Firing him was an absolute must.

What a lucky little guy, a lucky dad and a truly good Samaritan. Glad this one had a happy ending.