Another photo surfaces of a distracted Metro driver

WASHINGTON -- The top man at Metro is "embarrassed" after another photo of a Metro operator using a cell phone has surfaced.

General Manager John Catoe was shown the most recent photo on WTOP's Ask Metro Program Thursday. In the picture -- first posted on the website, Unsuck D.C. Metro -- a bus operator is seen holding what appears to be a cell phone to her ear while driving a crowded bus in traffic.

This comes after Metro implemented a zero-tolerance policy for any train or bus operator who uses a cell phone, PDA or texts on the job.

"I'm embarrassed," Catoe said. "That is not the image that we want for our employees."

Other Metro leaders are outraged and say there is enough evidence to find out who the driver is.

"We will determine who this operator is," Catoe said. "We will not tolerate any violations of our policies whatsoever. The penalty for doing that is, you will lose your job."

Recently, Metro train operators have been caught -- on video -- texting while at the controls and apparently sleeping. Bus operators have also been photographed reading a book behind the wheel and now using a cell phone.

Metro is also investigating an incident where a bus operator was arrested and charged with kidnapping a passenger. The operator and passenger got into an argument and the operator refused to let the passenger leave the bus.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)