Two Suffer Serious Injuries When Trains Collide in Tunnel

A San Francisco Municipal Railway driver was rescued from inside a train and two passengers suffered serious injuries when two trains collided inside a tunnel Sunday, authorities said.

A stalled train on the westbound tracks was hit from behind by another train, Muni spokesman Alan Siegel said. The driver of the second train was trapped for a brief time but was rescued by firefighters. The driver, whose identity was not disclosed, suffered injured ribs and a broken nose.

All rail service was halted about 1 p.m. when authorities responded to the accident inside the tunnel near the Castro Street station, Siegel said. A dispatcher at the central Muni station said most of the lines would remain out of service until this morning.

At least a dozen passengers suffered minor injuries, the dispatcher said.