Boy hurt in 2000 Disneyland accident dies

[Anewman]

Boy hurt in 2000 Disneyland accident dies [UPDATED]
12:51 PM, January 26, 2009

Zucker Brandon Zucker, a boy who was trapped under the Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin ride at Disneyland in a 2000 accident, died early this morning. He was 13.

Zucker, who was 4 at the time of the September 2000 accident, died at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, with his mother at his bedside.

The accident received widespread coverage when Brandon tumbled from the spinning “taxi cab” and was trapped underneath the following car. The vehicle rolled over him, folding his 45-pound body in half. He was stuck for 10 minutes before being freed.

Brandon suffered severe brain damage and never recovered from his injuries. The accident led to the first major investigation under a law that regulates amusement parks.

The state Department of Occupational Safety and Health found that Disneyland employees had improperly placed Brandon, his mother and brother into the ride and failed to lower the lap bar. It also ordered significant safety changes to the ride, including a sensor-equipped guard around the bottom of each car.

Updated, 12:56 p.m: Brandon’s father called 911 about 9:30 a.m. Sunday after finding him nonresponsive at their home in Anaheim, officials said. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital and later transferred to Children’s Hospital in Orange, where he died at 1:13 a.m. today, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

-- Kimi Yoshino

Earlier coverage of Brandon Zucker

Photo: Brandon Zucker 10 months after the accident. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/01/post-4.html

 

[Feralpeg]

Very sad.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Very sad indeed.




But why is my memory of the event different from what the article states? I seem to recall that the parents were handing the boy over from one car to another car while the ride was in action.


Am I totally crazy or am I recalling an internet rumor at the time?


Regardless, it is very sad that he suffered for many years, too.

 

[Karamia]

What a terrible tragedy.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Oh, so sad.

 

[preshi]

Very sad indeed.




But why is my memory of the event different from what the article states? I seem to recall that the parents were handing the boy over from one car to another car while the ride was in action.


Am I totally crazy or am I recalling an internet rumor at the time?


Regardless, it is very sad that he suffered for many years, too.

I remember hearing that story as well. So sad for the family

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Very sad indeed.

But why is my memory of the event different from what the article states? I seem to recall that the parents were handing the boy over from one car to another car while the ride was in action.

Am I totally crazy or am I recalling an internet rumor at the time?
Regardless, it is very sad that he suffered for many years, too.

You're not crazy, just getting your Disney accidents confused. The one you are referring to happened on Spaceship Earth at Epcot.

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

I have never heard about this, this is so heart breaking, where can I read about what happened, I can't grasp it from the article? Can anyone explain?

 

[disney1990]

How sad. I don't remember, are their seatbelts on this ride? I just wondered how he fell out of it.

 

[hopemax]

If I remember correctly, he fell out because he was sitting in the "outside" position of the car, while the adult was sitting in the "inside" position, with the second child in the middle. The correct procedure is for the adult to sit on the outside position, but it was not followed in this instance, and why Disney was found liable.

EDIT: For those that aren't familiar with the ride. It's like a normal dark ride, but the car also spins like a teacup, so there are centripetal forces that could lead to a small child, slipping out of the bar and falling out of the ride.

 

[wendylady36]

Oh wow, I thought that the accident had killed him when it happened. Just goes to show how bad my memory is. I remember when this happened. My family and I were staying at the DLH and the paper they deliver in the morning had that story on the front page.

How sad for the family to lose there son.

 

[C.Ann]

So sad..

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Very sad indeed.




But why is my memory of the event different from what the article states? I seem to recall that the parents were handing the boy over from one car to another car while the ride was in action.


Am I totally crazy or am I recalling an internet rumor at the time?


Regardless, it is very sad that he suffered for many years, too.

I remember the same version...

 

[RangerPooh]

But why is my memory of the event different from what the article states? I seem to recall that the parents were handing the boy over from one car to another car while the ride was in action.
QUOTE]

That's the version that I remember hearing in the news.

 

[figment52]

I feel so sad for the family.

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

I've read about a half dozen articles on this since I last posted....the boy was sitting by the opening of the door way and leaned over and fell out. He was 4 at the time, his mom was driving and his older brother was in the middle, he just spinned out of the car.