Trolley driver fired after kids drove

BOSTON, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Transportation officials in Boston said a trolley driver was fired after he was photographed allowing two young children to take the wheel of the vehicle.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said the 45-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was fired after pictures surfaced that depicted him allowing his young son and nephew to take the wheel of the trolley, The Boston Herald reported Wednesday.

"At the MBTA, we will not tolerate any behavior by an employee that may compromise the safety of MBTA customers and other employees," General Manager Daniel Grabauskas said.

The photographs were first posted on Web site CraigsList by a passenger who said the pictures were taken on an outbound Green Line trolley at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 1.

"I don't take any joy in the firing of the driver," said Michael Critz, who took the photographs. "My heart and prayers go out to him and his family during this trying time. However, there have been too many fatal accidents on the Green Line for passengers or the MBTA to allow a driver with a history of making bad safety choices to remain on the job. The controls of a trolley car are simply no place for children."