The Great Metro Operator Purge of 2009, which has so far only focused on operators caught texting or reading books when they're supposed to be manning massive metallic transpo-boxes, has (potentially) claimed a new victim, although his case is still "under investigation." His terrible crime against America? Oh, just opening the train doors on the wrong side, once, last night.
For now, he's still bringing in a paycheck -- without having to do any work! This is a great gig:
A Metro train operator who opened the doors on the wrong side of the train Thursday night at the Waterfront-SEU Station on the Green Line has been put on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, an agency official said Friday. There were no injuries in the incident.
A Metro official said that the operator took a drug and alcohol test after the station manager received complaints. Who knows?!
Meanwhile, this guy was scared.
Passenger Chester Joy, 62, riding the Metro home at 7:55 p.m., was standing on the platform side of the six-car train when the doors on the other side opened, above a narrow cat walk and the third rail.
"All of a sudden I'm looking out at the wall," said Joy, of the District, who had been out with his wife celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary. "Holy mackerel."
Eh, it doesn't look much better on the other side.
Jim Newell writes for Wonkette and IvyGate.
