Joseph T. Murphy, a lawyer for some injured passengers, criticized the CTA for a lack of transparency regarding the operator's alcohol use.

In the aftermath of the crash, four lawsuits have been filed against the CTA, alleging that the incident was preventable.

CTA officials confirmed compliance with federal drug and alcohol testing regulations, although the operator had not been randomly tested since starting in August 2023.

Despite the operator's alcohol consumption, NTSB officials stated that ongoing investigations have not found evidence that his actions contributed to the crash.

The crash led to 23 injuries, with 15 individuals refusing medical care, prompting the CTA to suspend Yellow Line service for over a month.

Preliminary findings from the NTSB revealed a design flaw in the train's braking system, noting that the train's braking distance was significantly shorter than that of newer systems.

Prior to the crash, the operator reported issues with the train's brakes, stating, 'train not stopping,' although he claimed to have experienced no problems earlier in the route.

On November 16, 2023, a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Yellow Line train collided with a snowplow during scheduled training, resulting in injuries to 38 people, including the train operator.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an ongoing investigation, which may take 12 to 24 months to complete, to determine the crash's causes and provide recommendations.

The train operator, who had only three months of experience in the position, remains employed by the CTA but is currently out of service pending investigations.

Federal investigators confirmed that the operator had a blood-alcohol level of 0.06% shortly after the crash, exceeding the federal limit of 0.02%.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that the operator appeared engaged and in control before the collision, which occurred at a speed of 54 mph, just below the maximum limit.