Probe says Muni driver fatigued before crash

A Muni driver was speeding, fatigued and probably distracted by his personal cell phone when he crashed his light-rail train into another last summer near AT&T Park, according to a report released Friday by the state Public Utilities Commission.

The report cited inconsistent signs along Muni's rail system and a lack of operator testing as likely contributing factors in the June 14 crash that injured 16 people, including both drivers.

The driver of a westbound T-Third train was traveling at almost 22 mph when he rear-ended an N-Judah train stopped at King Street between Third and Fourth streets, the report said. The train speed limit is 5 mph. The T-Third driver, who emerged with a cell phone at his ear, had been found at fault in two prior avoidable accidents, the report said. The driver, 45, had also been cited for having a cell phone plugged in inside the train.

Phone records show the driver on four phone calls in the train from 1:12 p.m. to 1:26 p.m. He started an internet download to his phone eight minutes before the crash. The driver is no longer with Muni, a spokesman said.

E-mail John Coté at jcote@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle