SEPTA crash due to excessive speeding

After an extensive investigation, SEPTA officials have concluded that speeding caused one of its trolleys to crash into a house at 42nd and Spruce streets on Sept. 23.

The crash occurred at about 3:03 a.m., when a westbound number 13 trolley derailed and slammed into the house on the corner of 42nd Street, after making its left turn from Spruce Street.

Although the cause of the accident is now known, the responsible driver remains employed with SEPTA.

"Preliminary investigation has concluded that excessive speed was the cause of the derailment of the trolley," SEPTA Director of Public Affairs Richard Maloney said.

"It remains under investigation," he added.

According to Maloney, the driver is still working for SEPTA because any disciplinary action that may be taken against her must first be reviewed by her union.

"That's a process that goes through the transportation workers' union," he said. "That will be a matter of discussion with them representing the employee."

"That also takes a period of time," he added.

Maloney said that until all investigations have been completed, the affected residents -- three in total, two of whom are Penn students -- are responsible for paying the costs of relocation.

"We're continuing to talk with the property owner for a settlement of the damage costs," he said.

"I'm not really sure how much longer it'll take," he added. "These things have a tendency to take some time."

While Campus Apartments, the owner of the damaged house, is covering some costs, the relocated residents are continuing to foot the bill for extra expenses.

Wharton senior Tara Einis and her roommate, who lived directly above the crash site, were forced to move out of their house on 42nd and Spruce streets and into an apartment on 40th Street, between Pine and Delancey streets.

Einis said that David Johnson, who lived in the unit that the trolley crashed into, also relocated, but that other individuals in the house were able to stay.

"We could file a lawsuit, but we're obviously not going to," Einis said. "Basically we're just trying to get compensated for any differences in fees we might get."

Einis said that Campus Apartments has been serving as a go-between to possibly obtain reimbursement from SEPTA.

"We're not really complaining," she said of the situation. "We're two blocks closer to campus, our apartment is nicer and newer."

"I guess it's over now," she added. "But I'm not a big fan of those trolleys, I must say."

"We've moved [here] permanently and are not moving back to our other place," Einis said.

According to Einis, Campus Apartments "has been amazing" in helping the displaced residents.

"SEPTA's just being bad and Campus Apartments is just being really great," she said, explaining that SEPTA has not paid for any of the expenses incurred from moving after the incident.

Although the rent for the new apartment is higher, Einis said that Campus Apartments is covering the difference.

Campus Apartments "moved us here out of their kindness," she said, adding that Campus Apartments also paid for movers to come help the students relocate.

"The difference in rent is pretty big, and SEPTA is hopefully going to take the difference" eventually, she said.

In addition to the increase in rent, Einis said there are other "little things" that cost more as well and it is these extra costs which have been forced upon her since the crash.

"Out of pocket, we're probably paying $80 more a month," she said, noting that she and her roommate have been forced to use landline phones in their apartment, "because our cell phones don't work here."

"SEPTA said they're going to pay for it but we don't know if they're going to," she said. "SEPTA is a really slow-moving institution."

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