Salem woman sues MBTA over crash

SALEM – A Salem woman has filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the operator of a Green Line Trolley for injuries she sustained when the subway collided with another trolley two years ago while the operator was texting his girlfriend.Samantha Mattei, of 7 Churchill St., Salem, filed the court action Thursday in Salem Superior Court naming the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, located at 10 Park Plaza, Boston, and operator Aiden Quinn, of 24 Dean St., Attleboro.On May 8, 2009 while Mattei was a passenger on the subway, the train collided with another Green Line subway, which was stopped at a red light between Government Center Station and Park Street station in Boston.At the time of the accident, Quinn was apparently sending a text message to his girlfriend.As a result, Mattei sustained a fractured vertebra, facial laceration and a concussion.In her complaint, Mattei accuses the MBTA of failing to adequately evaluate the background of Aiden, who apparently had a long history of moving violations and at least one other accident that was his fault on his driving record.The two-count complaint, filed by Jon T. Skerry of Salem, on behalf of Mattei, lists hospital, doctor, lost wages in the total amount of $51,425.49.A trial before a jury is requested from the court to determine a just and proper monetary amount of damages.