The September incident on the N Judah line drew screams from passengers and a swift safety review by San Francisco’s transit agency.
SAN FRANCISCO — A newly surfaced video appears to show a San Francisco Muni light-rail operator nodding off at the controls on Sept. 24 as an inbound N Judah train exited the Sunset Tunnel near Duboce Park, jolting riders and prompting an internal investigation, officials said.
The episode matters now because the footage, widely shared this week, captures the operator apparently unresponsive moments before the train accelerates through a curve and past a scheduled stop. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said it has removed the operator from driving duties and attributed the incident to fatigue, not equipment failure. The case has renewed questions about oversight, operator scheduling and passenger safety as the agency reviews procedures and determines potential discipline.
According to the agency and accounts from riders, the two-car train was headed toward downtown around 8:37 a.m. on a weekday morning, carrying a full load of commuters. As the train cleared the east portal of the Sunset Tunnel, it picked up speed and rocked side to side while rounding the tight curve toward Duboce Avenue. Passengers screamed and grabbed for poles as the car lurched. The train missed its Duboce Avenue and Noe Street stop and came to a halt a short distance later near Walter Street. In the video, the operator wakes and can be heard saying, “I’m sorry, relax, relax … we didn’t crash,” as shaken riders demand to get off. Paramedics were called. Riders reported falls and at least one possible concussion.
Transit officials said preliminary data show the train reached about 50 mph at the curve, far above normal speed for that segment. The SFMTA described “a series of unexpected jolting movements” but said the train did not derail and there was no collision. Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum called the conduct “unacceptable” and said safety is the top priority. The operator, whose name has not been released, is on nondriving status pending the outcome of the review. The agency said early findings point to operator fatigue rather than brake, signaling or track problems. How long the operator had been on duty before the incident remains under review, and the exact number of injured passengers has not been confirmed.
The N Judah is Muni’s busiest light-rail line, linking the Outer Sunset and Inner Sunset to downtown through the Sunset Tunnel beneath Buena Vista Heights. Trains typically slow to single-digit speeds as they exit the tunnel and approach Duboce Avenue because of a sharp curve and a surface crossing shared with street traffic. In recent years, Muni has emphasized speed moderation and safety in this area after complaints about near misses and rough braking. Passengers who ride daily said Wednesday’s release of the video matched their experience that morning — a sudden surge, a violent jolt and a long, stunned silence afterward — but noted they had not previously seen an operator appear to fall asleep.
Procedurally, the case moves through SFMTA’s standard post-incident steps: pulling vehicle data logs, interviewing the operator and crew, collecting passenger statements, and checking camera footage from inside the cab and car. The operator remains on paid nondriving status while labor rules govern interviews and any discipline. If the investigation confirms unsafe operation, penalties can range from retraining and probation to suspension or termination, according to agency policy. Officials said they are also reviewing scheduling practices, fatigue training and real-time monitoring in operator cabs. Any formal report would be released after the agency completes its findings and confers with its Board of Directors. No criminal charges have been announced.
On Duboce Avenue the morning of the incident, orange-vested supervisors set cones as firefighters stepped aboard and checked riders. A few passengers sat on the curb, cradling elbows and knees. Others filmed as the operator apologized through the cab window. “People flew,” said Laura Chen, who lives nearby and heard the screams before seeing the train stop past Walter Street. “It sounded like a crash, then it was just quiet.” Another rider, Daniel Ruiz, said the car “went from steady to chaos in a second” and that he watched a fellow passenger hit a pole. Neighbors said trains usually brake hard at the portal but do not blow past the stop.
As of Tuesday evening, the SFMTA said the operator will not return to the controls until the internal review is complete and any corrective actions are taken. The agency plans to brief its board on preliminary findings at its next public meeting and expects to outline policy changes on training and scheduling in the coming weeks. Officials said they will update the public if injury totals change or if outside regulators request additional steps.
Author note: Last updated November 11, 2025.