CarolKoster
Carol Koster
Disney EchoEar Grand Mouseter
Group: Members
Posts: 19444
Joined: April 1992 |
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Posted: July 05, 2009, 7:45 am |
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Tragedy at WDW in the early morning hours following Independence Day, as I post this only WESH-TV has the story, three other Orlando TV stations and the Orlando Sentinel do not; Fox News Channel just had something on. This will change as news organizations become aware of it and develop the story and distribute it further. Terrible tragedy for the Cast Member who died in the accident, keep the family in thoughts and prayers. This will develop further, so what's quote below are sketchy basic facts.
Photo of deceased Cast Member Austin Wuennenberg
Quoting WESH-TV, Orlando FL, website:
http://www.wesh.com/news/19955188/detail.html
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The operator of a monorail at Walt Disney World died Sunday morning when two monorails crashed.
According to the Reedy Creek Fire Department, the accident happened about 2 a.m. at the ticket and transportation area, where people catch the monorail to get to the Magic Kingdom from the parking lot. The driver of the other train was taken to the hospital as well.
About five or six guests were on the monorail, but they are not seriously injured.
It is not known how the two trains crashed. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating.
End of quoted story.
  
Editted later to add:
Orlando Sentinel and WFTV-TV have it now as does Central Florida Channel 13:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news....6.story
Two Walt Disney World monorail trains collided early Sunday morning, killing the operator of one of the trains.
The wreck is the first fatal accident in the Walt Disney World monorail system's almost 38-year history, according to CFNews13.com.
The trains were transporting guests leaving Epcot Center after a Fourth of July fireworks show when the trains collided at about 2 a.m., according to several news sites. Responders had to cut the deceased operator from the monorail. Another was taken to a hospital.
Fire officials said no park guests were injured.
Epcot is scheduled to open on time at 9 a.m. today, but the monorail to the park will not be in service, according to CFNews13.
Read more information here.
"Here" goes to:
http://www.cfnews13.com/News....er.html
LAKE BUENA VISTA -- News 13 has learned a driver of the Walt Disney World Monorail System was killed when two monorail trains collided early Sunday.
Witnesses who called the News 13 newsroom said the trains collided around 2 a.m. Sunday on the Epcot track of the Transportation and Ticket Center, located at the parking lot of the Magic Kingdom, as guests were leaving the park following a Fourth of July fireworks show.
The Reedy Creek Fire Department told News 13 the driver was pronounced dead on the the scene, and another driver was taken to the hospital.
No guests were injured, fire officials said.
There was no immediate word on what caused the wreck, or how many people were aboard the trains when they collided.
According to witnesses, one monorail train slammed into the back of the other.
Crews had to cut the driver who died out of the train.
PSunday’s wreck marks the first fatal accident in the Walt Disney World Monorail System’s nearly 38 years of operation.
Statement from Disney
Mike Griffin, vice president of public affairs at Walt Disney World, issued the following statement Sunday following the wreck:
“Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and those who have lost a friend and coworker. 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 appropriate next steps.”
Disney officials told News 13 Epcot is scheduled to reopen on time at 9 a.m., but the monorail to the park will remain out of service until further notice.
Monorail System Facts
The Walt Disney World Monorail system debuted when the resort first opened in 1971 with two routes.
In 1982, the system expanded to three lines as Epcot first opened.
The entire monorail system currently comprises 14.7 miles of track, transporting about 50 million guests every year between the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and various Disney resorts.revious Monorail Accidents
1974
A monorail train crashed into the train ahead of it, injuring a driver and two guests.
June 26, 1985
A fire engulfed the rear car of a monorail train in transit from Epcot to the Transportation and Ticket Center. The train was carrying 240 passengers, 40 of whom were in the burning car.
Passengers in the car kicked out side windows and climbed around the side of the train to reach the roof, where they were subsequently rescued by the Reedy Creek Fire Department.
Seven passengers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation or other minor injuries.
Aug. 30, 1991
A monorail train collided with a diesel maintenance work tractor near Disney’s Contemporary Resort as the tractor drove closely in front of the train to film it for a commercial. Two cast members were treated at a hospital for injuries.
Aug. 12, 1996
An electrical fire broke out on a train pulling into the Magic Kingdom station. The driver and the five passengers onboard exited safely.
http://www.wftv.com/news/19955324/detail.html
Disney Monorail Crash Kills One
Posted: 7:31 am EDT July 5, 2009
Updated: 7:48 am EDT July 5, 2009
WALT DISNEY WORLD, Fla. -- A crash between two monorail trains at Walt Disney World killed a driver overnight.
Reedy Creek Fire Officials have confirmed that a monorail train rammed into the back of another train at the Epcot Transportation and Ticket Station around 2:00 Sunday morning.
Employees who witnessed the crash told Channel 9 crews used torches to try to cut through the metal to reach the driver, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.
7 other riders were checked out by paramedics, but were not seriously injured.
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