Video appears to show San Francisco train driver asleep before 2 empty trains crash

SAN FRANCISCO -- A video appears to show a train operator falling asleep moments before a July 31 crash involving two empty Muni trains. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency says the incident was initially determined to have been caused by operator fatigue.

The video obtained by the group NorCal Bodycam and shared with ABC7 Bay Area appears to show the operator asleep before the train crashes into the rear of another train ahead of it, shattering window glass.

The collision occurred on the morning of July 31 near the intersection of 47th Avenue and Wawona Street, north of the San Francisco Zoo. Fire officials said both trains were empty of passengers at the time of the crash.

In a statement, the SFMTA said no one was injured in the collision.

"This type of incident is simply unacceptable. While the formal investigation of the collision is ongoing, vehicle and infrastructure issues have been ruled out, and the initial determination for the incident is operator error caused by fatigue."

The incident is not the first time a Muni operator has appeared to fall asleep while operating a train.

In September, a driver was seen appearing to doze off as a train accelerated to 50 mph before the operator was jolted awake. The train was crowded with morning commuters, and some passengers were thrown forward or out of their seats.

The SFMTA said its investigation of that incident also determined the cause was "operator fatigue." The agency said it immediately launched a fatigue-awareness education campaign following that event.

The investigation into the July 31 collision remains ongoing.