The driver of a train that crashed and ran into an escalator earlier this week has admitted she fell asleep at the controls.

Dramatic CCTV footage has also been leaked which shows the moment two passengers had to flee the oncoming train as it ploughed into the platform at O’Hare International Airport station in Chicago, in the US.

A federal detective investigating the crash on Monday was told the driver only woke up after crashing into the station at 26mph.

‘She did admit that she dozed off prior to entering the station,’ explained national transportation safety board investigator Ted Turpin. ‘She did not awake until the train hit.’




It also emerged that this was her second safety violation in months as she had been reprimanded just six weeks ago for falling asleep at the controls and over-running at a station.

The train car rests on an escalator after derailing (Picture: AP)

Union officials explained that the driver had been working erratic hours and had started that night’s shift at 10pm.

Fortunately, only 32 people were injured in this week’s crash and there were no fatalities thanks, in part, to the incident taking place at 3am when the platform was largely deserted.

Nevertheless, attorneys for those who were injured have already begun filing lawsuits against the Chicago Transit Authority, which is facing a $6million (£3.6million) repair bill.

The driver has now been put on ‘injured duty status’ and is understood to be cooperating with the investigation.