BREAKING NEWS on CNN: Monorail Accident Kills One IN WDW

[MosMom]

We rode in Austin's car last month. He was a very nice and professional gentleman. I'm deeply saddened by the news of his death. I still haven't decided whether I should discuss it with the kids (7 and 9). I feel so sorry for his parents. I can't imagine the grief that they must feel.

 

[minnie56]

I am so saddened by this lovely young mans passing...seems we all are.
Just heartbreaking..

 

[JR6ooo4]

We rode in Austin's car last month. He was a very nice and professional gentleman. I'm deeply saddened by the news of his death. I still haven't decided whether I should discuss it with the kids (7 and 9). I feel so sorry for his parents. I can't imagine the grief that they must feel.

I would think that it would be very traumatic and would sour WDW for them tremendously. It is one thing to hear of the accident and then to hear of a death. But they spent time with Austin. It is probably a top memory of the trip. But then, when do you discuss it....

very sad.

Mike

 

[PenguinWaiters]

We rode in Austin's car last month. He was a very nice and professional gentleman. I'm deeply saddened by the news of his death. I still haven't decided whether I should discuss it with the kids (7 and 9). I feel so sorry for his parents. I can't imagine the grief that they must feel.

This picture is actually harder for me to deal with than any of the post-crash pictures or videos. My thoughts are with his family, friends and coworkers, and especially those coworkers who were present at the time of the accident.

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

That picture just breaks my heart.

 

[RadioNate]

We rode in Austin's car last month. He was a very nice and professional gentleman. I'm deeply saddened by the news of his death. I still haven't decided whether I should discuss it with the kids (7 and 9). I feel so sorry for his parents. I can't imagine the grief that they must feel.

Earlier in this thread there is a link to the facebook page that Austin's friends have put together. I think this photo may mean a lot to them if you would like to post it.

Thanks for sharing your photo and story.

 

[Geoff_M]

We rode in Austin's car last month.

I can imagine the feeling in the pit of your stomach when you pulled that photo up. I had a similar incident with 1996 Indy 500 Pole Sitter Scott Brayton. I was taking photos of him for a friend of his about two minutes before he perished in practice at Indy. However, it's great that you got that photo. If it makes it to his family, I'm sure they'll treasure it. Nice shot to boot.

 

[Belle0101]

We rode in Austin's car last month. He was a very nice and professional gentleman. I'm deeply saddened by the news of his death. I still haven't decided whether I should discuss it with the kids (7 and 9). I feel so sorry for his parents. I can't imagine the grief that they must feel.

The crash pictures, while saddening and tragic, are less personal in some way. I guess the crash pictures represent to me Disney, the institution. This picture makes it so much more personal and really brings the true tragedy into focus. Disney will always be there but this happy, friendly and attractive young man lost his life. It just breaks my heart for his family and friends.

 

[Feralpeg]

They interviewed Austin's aunt on the local news. Austin was an only child. His father died 19 years ago. He was very close to his mother. They had a system so that, if she woke up in the night, she would know that he was home safe. She would leave a lamp on in her bedroom. When he came home, he would turn it off. When she woke up Sunday morning, the lamp was on. The aunt broke down telling this story. I broke down listening to it.

As the single mom of an 21 year old only child, I can't imagine the grief his mom is going through. My heart breaks for her.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

What a sad story. I can't imagine the grief that poor mom is going through right now.

 

[CathrynRose]

They interviewed Austin's aunt on the local news. Austin was an only child. His father died 19 years ago. He was very close to his mother. They had a system so that, if she woke up in the night, she would know that he was home safe. She would leave a lamp on in her bedroom. When he came home, he would turn it off. When she woke up Sunday morning, the lamp was on. The aunt broke down telling this story. I broke down listening to it.

As the single mom of an 21 year old only child, I can't imagine the grief his mom is going through. My heart breaks for her.

Ugh!

Thank you for sharing that picture (a few posts up) as well.

So sad.

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

They interviewed Austin's aunt on the local news. Austin was an only child. His father died 19 years ago. He was very close to his mother. They had a system so that, if she woke up in the night, she would know that he was home safe. She would leave a lamp on in her bedroom. When he came home, he would turn it off. When she woke up Sunday morning, the lamp was on. The aunt broke down telling this story. I broke down listening to it.

As the single mom of an 21 year old only child, I can't imagine the grief his mom is going through. My heart breaks for her.

OMG God Bless her. I can't even begin to imagine.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

We rode in Austin's car last month. He was a very nice and professional gentleman. I'm deeply saddened by the news of his death. I still haven't decided whether I should discuss it with the kids (7 and 9). I feel so sorry for his parents. I can't imagine the grief that they must feel.

Thank you so much for this picture. What a handsome young man!

They interviewed Austin's aunt on the local news. Austin was an only child. His father died 19 years ago. He was very close to his mother. They had a system so that, if she woke up in the night, she would know that he was home safe. She would leave a lamp on in her bedroom. When he came home, he would turn it off. When she woke up Sunday morning, the lamp was on. The aunt broke down telling this story. I broke down listening to it.

As the single mom of an 21 year old only child, I can't imagine the grief his mom is going through. My heart breaks for her.

That poor mother. I feel so so sorry for her and what she is going through right now. And those working on the monorail line right now must be grief stricken also. I can understand why Disney would suspend rides up front for now.

 

[NikiM20]

Between that very nice picture and FeralPeg telling us about the interview , I started crying again. I feel so sorry for his mother, I could not even imagine losing a child.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

If anyone cares, we achieved our goal and the Orlando Sentinel posted a blog about it. See link below.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/et...ail-driver-austin-wuennenberg-on-twitter.html

Awesome....I did what was asked

 

[Tinker74]

I can't stop crying now I have read about his mother and saw that picture....I have NEVER been affected so much by a tragedy.
What a wonderful young man he was....i feel so helpless.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

The picture and the story bring it back to the heart. My heart breks for his mother and family.

Thank you for sharing that wonderful picture of him.

 

[Towncrier]

The more time passes since the accident and the more that I learn about Austin, the sadder I become. I could hear the pain in my son's voice when he left me voicemail yesterday once he realized that it was the Austin that he knew and with whom he had worked with at Rock'n'Roller Coaster last summer. My wife told me that James could barely hold back the tears when he talked about Austin with her. My wife remembers how Austin thanked her when she brought cookies to the castmembers at Coaster last summer. I wish that there were more that I could do for the family and for Austin's friends. I will continue to hold them in my thoughts and prayers, especially tomorrow during his memorial service. May Austin rest in peace.

 

[happygirl]

My heart goes out to Austin family and friends

 

[Kim&Chris]

We rode in Austin's car last month. He was a very nice and professional gentleman. I'm deeply saddened by the news of his death. I still haven't decided whether I should discuss it with the kids (7 and 9). I feel so sorry for his parents. I can't imagine the grief that they must feel.

Thank you for posting this picture. I cannot help but feel so emotional while looking at this. His poor mother. The fear he must have felt knowing the monorails were going to collide. I pray for them both.