5 fired over Chicago subway derailment

The Chicago Transit Authority has fired five employees for failing to recognize poor track conditions before a subway train derailed last summer, sending about 150 passengers to the hospital, the agency said Thursday.

The fired employees include two track inspectors, their foreman, an engineer and a track-maintenance manager responsible for overseeing the section of track involved. Their actions put customers and other transit authority workers at risk, said Frank Kruesi, president of the transit authority, in a statement.

The inspectors had examined the track just days before the July 11 derailment and reported no defects, transit authority spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney said. But authorities now know there were defects, such as the track was slightly too wide rail-to-rail, she said.

Messages seeking comment were left Thursday evening with the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents transit authority workers.

About 150 passengers were hospitalized after the last car of a train slipped from the track on the transit authority's Blue Line, sparking a smoky fire during the evening rush hour. Most were treated for smoke inhalation and released.