WDW Monorail Accident
WDW Monorail Accident
Most of what I am going to post is reported by other news sources.
From the Orlando Sentinel
Two Walt Disney World monorail trains collided early Sunday morning, killing the operator of one of the trains.
Walt Disney World spokesman Mike Griffin said the crash happened at about 2 a.m. Sunday, on one of the monorail's last runs of the day.
Austin Wenneberg, 21, a Disney employee who was piloting one of the monorails died at the scene of the accident, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. One other employee was transported to Florida Hospital Celebration. The second driver's injuries were not serious, Griffin said.
The trains were transporting guests leaving Epcot. Six park guests were on the train during the crash, and were evaluated by paramedics at the scene according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
The park was operating normally Sunday, except for the closure of the monorail. Guests, who were being directed to buses instead, did not seem deterred by the accident.
Park guest Scott Shea, of Winter Springs, had already heard about the accident when he arrived at the park Sunday morning.
"I heard it happened at 2 a.m.," said Shea, who was visiting Walt Disney World with his family. "Just must have been due to tiredness."
The wreck is the first fatal accident in the Walt Disney World monorail system's almost 38-year history, according to CFNews13.com. However, at Disneyland in California, there has been at least one death on the monorail system, according to park historians.
Walt Disney World officials said they are working with law enforcement officials to find out what happened.
"Our heart goes out to the cast member and the family," Griffin said.
According to a former Walt Disney World monorail driver, the vehicles were outfitted with a safety system called Mapo. The former driver, who said he drove the current Mark VI monorail trains, said as soon as the monorail train gets within two checkpoints of another train, it automatically stops.
The former driver said he believes there are about 150 to 200 feet between checkpoints. He said drivers whose monorail train had to be shut down three times were removed permanently from their position.
In a video of Saturday's incident posted on ClickOrlando.com, several guests gathered on the platform as riders exited the monorail after the crash.
A man who appears to be a Walt Disney World employee told bystanders there were guests and a driver still in the monorail cars.
"Is there somebody in here?" one guest said, referring to the smashed front of one Monorail.
"Yes. The driver," the apparent employee said.
The video shows park guests attempting to get to the trapped driver, banging on the windows of monorail. When the apparent employee realized the incident was being taped, he forced the cameraman to stop filming.
Walt Disney World released the following statement from Griffin regarding the incident:
"Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and co-worker. The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority. The monorail is out of service and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the approximate next steps."
I am not going to post any pictures here, if you want to see pictures or video you know where to find them. I don't think it is fair to the cast members families to repeatedly see photos of this accident, posted all over the internet
My condolences to all the families involved. My prayers go out to cast members involved in the accident and I wish all the cast members who know Adam a heart felt prayer. Please prayer for their families, Friends and co workers.
From the Orlando Sentinel
Two Walt Disney World monorail trains collided early Sunday morning, killing the operator of one of the trains.
Walt Disney World spokesman Mike Griffin said the crash happened at about 2 a.m. Sunday, on one of the monorail's last runs of the day.
Austin Wenneberg, 21, a Disney employee who was piloting one of the monorails died at the scene of the accident, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. One other employee was transported to Florida Hospital Celebration. The second driver's injuries were not serious, Griffin said.
- WESH.com photos of the scene: http://www.wesh.com/slideshow/news/19956082/detail.html
- ClickOrlando.com video, shot by a guest: http://www.clickorlando.com/video/19956043/index.html
The trains were transporting guests leaving Epcot. Six park guests were on the train during the crash, and were evaluated by paramedics at the scene according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
The park was operating normally Sunday, except for the closure of the monorail. Guests, who were being directed to buses instead, did not seem deterred by the accident.
Park guest Scott Shea, of Winter Springs, had already heard about the accident when he arrived at the park Sunday morning.
"I heard it happened at 2 a.m.," said Shea, who was visiting Walt Disney World with his family. "Just must have been due to tiredness."
The wreck is the first fatal accident in the Walt Disney World monorail system's almost 38-year history, according to CFNews13.com. However, at Disneyland in California, there has been at least one death on the monorail system, according to park historians.
Walt Disney World officials said they are working with law enforcement officials to find out what happened.
"Our heart goes out to the cast member and the family," Griffin said.
According to a former Walt Disney World monorail driver, the vehicles were outfitted with a safety system called Mapo. The former driver, who said he drove the current Mark VI monorail trains, said as soon as the monorail train gets within two checkpoints of another train, it automatically stops.
The former driver said he believes there are about 150 to 200 feet between checkpoints. He said drivers whose monorail train had to be shut down three times were removed permanently from their position.
In a video of Saturday's incident posted on ClickOrlando.com, several guests gathered on the platform as riders exited the monorail after the crash.
A man who appears to be a Walt Disney World employee told bystanders there were guests and a driver still in the monorail cars.
"Is there somebody in here?" one guest said, referring to the smashed front of one Monorail.
"Yes. The driver," the apparent employee said.
The video shows park guests attempting to get to the trapped driver, banging on the windows of monorail. When the apparent employee realized the incident was being taped, he forced the cameraman to stop filming.
Walt Disney World released the following statement from Griffin regarding the incident:
"Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and co-worker. The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority. The monorail is out of service and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the approximate next steps."
I am not going to post any pictures here, if you want to see pictures or video you know where to find them. I don't think it is fair to the cast members families to repeatedly see photos of this accident, posted all over the internet
My condolences to all the families involved. My prayers go out to cast members involved in the accident and I wish all the cast members who know Adam a heart felt prayer. Please prayer for their families, Friends and co workers.
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