Bus Driver Caught Texting While Driving No Longer With Muni

Update Saturday: The driver is "no longer an employee of the SFMTA," Muni spokesman Paul Rose told KTVU yesterday.

Friday post:

On some perverse level, this is a pretty awesome story, if only for the sheer bureaucratic befuddlement of it all....

Earlier this month, a bus passenger videotaped a Muni driver texting while driving, confronted her, and was unceremoniously kicked off the bus. He complained to the transit agency, which suspended the driver before announcing they would move to fire her.

Last night, KCBS reported that the same passenger who originally blew the whistle was shocked to find her behind the wheel again yesterday.

Watch the video report here.

From KCBS:

Higgins said he called Muni officials immediately and was told it couldn’t possibly be the same driver.

“I was starting to doubt myself a little bit because Muni was trying to convince me that it wasn’t true, that there was no way she could be driving,” Higgins said.

CBS 5 contacted Muni and the transit agency admitted that it was the same operator behind the wheel. But officials said she wasn’t supposed to be there.

“Are you kidding me? It was her then. I knew it was her. I called them and they said it couldn’t possibly be her driving,” Higgins said. “I am so upset right now, I can’t believe that.”

John Haley, Muni Director of Transit Operations told CBS 5 the driver will be fired. He is not sure if Thursday was the only time she was driving a bus during her suspension.

This morning, KTVU reported that the driver has been ordered to attend a hearing today that would decide her final fate.

We have a call out to Muni now...