BOSTON – A trolley rear-ended another trolley that was stopped between two underground stations in downtown Boston on Friday night, injuring about 50 people, and one of the conductors told police he was texting at the time of the crash, officials said.

About 100 people were evacuated, and 49 were taken to area hospitals, but officials said their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The 24-year-old operator of the moving trolley, who was the most seriously injured, admitted to police that he was sending text messages from his cell phone when the accident occurred, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Dan Grabauskas said.

The MBTA has stepped up enforcement of the rule against cell phone use by operators following a trolley crash in Newton last May that killed the driver of a trolley that collided with another. Although there were reports the driver was using a cell phone just before the crash, an investigation ultimately determined there was no evidence she was using her phone.

Grabauskas said the operator of the trolley that struck the parked trolley admitted to investigators who interviewed him in a hospital he saw the red light ahead of him as he was texting, but it was too late to stop.

"I can tell you it's difficult to contain my outrage at hearing this," Grabauskas said.

Officials would not release the conductor's name, but MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said he had been on the job for less than two years.

Most of the victims suffered cuts or skeletal injuries, said John Gill, deputy superintendent of Boston EMS. Two people had chest pains.

Some passengers had to be extracted from the trains, deputy fire chief Richard DiBenedetto said. Others were taken from the station on stretchers or backboards.

The collision occurred at 7:18 p.m. between Park and Government Center stations. A westbound two-car trolley was stopped at a red signal, waiting to enter Park Station, when it was hit by another two-car trolley.

The damage was limited to the front of the moving train and the rear of the train that was struck, Grabauskas said.

An investigation will try to determine why the moving trolley did not stop. Grabauskas had no estimates on how fast it was traveling.

Green Line service between the stations was shut down after the crash.

Why do people think they can text and do huge important things at the same time?

It's even worse than being on a dam.n phone.

IMO, they are functioning on limited brain cells.
I think texting is way worse as well.

you know people like this really should be charged and spend time in jail. Texting or any other distracting thing like putting on makeup while driving is the most dangerous thing I have ever scene. Out here a care load of girls were killed cause the driver decided to answer a text, and they slammed into a tree. Also recently, a dumb beatch ran into a lady on a motorcycle and killed her cause she was, get this, painting her nails.

Good Lord, people are just farking nuts! I've seen men shaving w/electric razors on the 101 frwy., I've seen people reading books and newspapers.

A few years back, this is somewhat funny because nobody was around, but on PCH in Malibu a cop was parked on the hill overlooking the road and a car sped by, w/smoke coming out the windows, so the cop takes off after the driver, thinking A) speeding and B) Drugs.
So he pulls the car over, it's about midnight and the driver, get this, IS BBQ CHICKEN ON A SMALL HIBACHI, explained to the cop he was coming back from some business trip and was hungry. WTF? The cop called it into what used to be a radio station called "Pirate Radio" here in L.A....LOLOLOL OMG people just amaze me sometimes.

I KNOOWW!!!!! I saw some idiot putting on mascara going 70 miles per hour during stop and go traffic, it's just incredible how stupi.d people are.

What a moron! Maybe karma intervened and she poked herself in the eye? lol

Makes you want to pull these jackarses over and slap them upside their stupid head. LOL

You know whats even worse.. i mean on top of it all.. the english language is being mutilated constantly.. and wtf.. theyre not really saying ANYthing.. no one can COMMUNICATE like that...and its killing people literally,.. all this Convenience...I mean I don't wanna die, because some jacka.ss is making smoochies at his chick at work and cant find the two 5 that make an S. For real, dudes.

Oh so dang true! I love LOVE how you are able to find words to express the feelings.
I may, on more then one occasion, massacre the English language, but I firmly believe in communication, I'm much for, when time allows, picking up the phone and actually hearing a voice on the other end or walking or driving my happy arse over to see a loved one face to face and chat over coffee or tea.
And really, how convenient is it? You can't "sense" emotion or even how the other person is intending something that is typed...I've struggled w/that lots of times because I am not the best at conveying what is in my head or heart and you can't hear the inflextion in my voice...you know what I mean?

Wow..way to not mangle a single word or emotion! lol.. and when I said the language was mangled I really meant the texting itself.. but youre right, lots of long form text in every day life I have seen completely *******ized. The more the technology suffices the use of language the less learning and teachers to go round to teach it properly....that is in sore evidence.

There's actually a novel called "Slowness"...it kind of makes one realize what waiting for a letter on shipboard meant to someone as opposed to todays rush-communicating... I havent read it, I want to.

That's very true, makes one cringe thinking of what the next generation or the one after them will be like if this continues.
Thank you. xo I'm happy I didn't mangle anything, I think that's a first. LOL

I've not heard of that book but it sounds very interesting.
I used to, before her passing, send letters to my grandma after she was unable to fly across the pond to visit any more, and I just thought of it as something fun to do and when I went back for her funeral, I was stunned, touched and in utter awe that she kept everything ever sent her, all neatly packed and tied w/ribbon in her desk. I cried, because her neighbor told me how much she looked forward to the mailman.
Reason I brought that up is I can somewhat understand the concept of the book...receiving a letter was a treat.
I've actually, started that w/my little nieces and nephews in Phx. we do weekly writing campaigns, snail mail, and even though they are too little to write properly or anything like that, they are very good at expressing what they think, what they are doing and they draw me pictures. My sis says they gather around my mom (who watches them) when the mail gets brought in asking if there is anything there for them from me...and I do actually send ea. one their own individual letter w/photos of what's happening here. LOL
Am I ****, perhaps, but I think it's something that should not be forgotten, it's great to have something new, but important to not forget the great things in the past.

Awesome thing to do. You're not whatever got starred out,lol. Where was grandma across the pond? If you don't mind if I ask?

I typed D o r k lol wonder why it wouldn't take?

It's fun, they get a kick out of it and I have started a collection of their notes and letters and am starting individual scrapbooks for them, maybe one day they'd like to have it.

My family is originally from the former Yugoslavia, still have relatives there and in Germany. My maternal grandma lived about 30 miles outside Belgrade...I think it's 30 miles. I have relatives there, that I keep in touch with and visit time to time and speak w/on the phone along w/family in Canada, we've all remained close irregardless of the waters and borders that seperate us, we get together as much as possible.

Sorry am uber talkative tonight for some God forsaken reason, usually I'm quite mum and private.

You have this knack for making me think we're the only two on the forum chatting. LOL

And no I don't mind you asking...not at all, sometimes I may answer privately depending on question.

How about you? Did yo grow up in MA?

Wow, that's all quite fabulous. I love Germany, would love to go someday. Would have to learn to speak a lil better though, getting my face slapped constantly wouldnt be much fun,LOL. I can do that here,roflmao.

I have a family tree dating back to the 1100's...and I know we got here on the Mayflower. There's 11 knights in the DeSouthworth's on that side. Other side I am French and Cree Native American all Canadian border like. That side has a highwayman hung for his lifestyle and an Indian woman named Nightbird, which always reminds me of the Stevie Nicks song of the same name, lol.
I could tell a hundred tales. Don't worry, I won't.

Yeah, I grew up here totally.. I guess we all did, rofl...at least I got Westerly of Easton, lots didnt.