CTA train operator faces potential dismissal after crash but remains on leave due to injuries

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) cannot discipline a train operator involved in a crash last November due to his ongoing injuries. The operator tested positive for a blood-alcohol level of 0.048%, which could lead to automatic dismissal under CTA rules when he returns to work. The operator was piloting the train when it collided with a snowplow, injuring 19 people. Under CTA policy, operators with less than three years of experience face automatic termination for a blood-alcohol level above 0.04%, regardless of circumstances. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash, which may take up to a year. The CTA has since reduced the speed limit on the Yellow Line where the incident occurred.