BOSTON -- An MBTA trolley driver who was photographed with two of his family's children near the controls has been fired.

Trolley Driver Fired | Watch Report

The termination of the driver, who was charged with jeopardizing public safety, was announced by MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo Monday. His name was not released.

"I noticed that while I'm standing, that there are also two kids standing inside the driver's compartment of the trolley," said passenger Michael Critz, who took the pictures and sent them to Team 5 Investigates last week.

Critz had boarded the trolley on Sept. 1 in Brookline during the evening rush hour. He said the boy was pushing the button that rang the trolley's bell. The button is right next to the trolley's emergency stop button.

"Between his body and the controls you could see a small boy. You could see in the off-limits area of the driver's compartment a slightly older child," said Critz.

"The operator acknowledged that he had his son and a nephew on the trolley with him that day," said Pesaturo. "Clearly having two children next to you while operating a trolley is a distraction."

The MBTA does not believe either of the children was driving the trolley.

"From the photos, it doesn't look like that is the case. The controls for the Green Line trolley are on the left-hand side. In the photos, the children are on the driver's right," said Pesaturo.

Pesaturo said that the driver had been previously suspended for three days last year for using a cell phone while driving.