From post #136:
I would say that I'm not making assumptions; I'm making educated guesses, having been in a train wreck. I think Disney's statement where they refused to discuss the way the monorail works is the beginning of the sweeping.
For being in a train wreck, let me say that you must have dealt with a very difficult situation, to say the least and that is a tragedy that no one should have to face.
That said, your response reminds me of a situation I witnessed some years ago. A truck driver was driving down an interstate (in his company's truck). Due to poor maintenance on his vehicle, a shackle fell off the rear axle, bounced off the freeway and went through the windshield of the car behind. The driver, was not responsible for the maintenance on the truck. Yet, he was driving, thus, by law, responsible. The driver that was struck was killed. Upon stopping, the driver of the truck, who was as distraught as the victim's wife (who was sitting next to him in the car), admitted fault and pleaded with the woman to forgive him stating: "I am so sorry this happened". Long story short, she got an attorney and sued the guy for everything he had and she won. The key to the case, was the drivers admission of guilt at the scene of the accident. So, by being a stand up guy and feeling compassion for someone, he lost pretty much everything he had because he consoled a victim of an unfortunate accident that he was a part.
It would be irresponsible of Disney, or any party of an accident, to disclose every detail prior to knowing the facts. "Sweeping it under the rug"?? Disney is too large for them to hide the truth here. It will come out. But at the end of the day, it will probably be due to human failure and with some ideas already posted, seems that it could be a small error that had tragic consequences.
With all that's at stake, and just in general, for Disney to respond to this in any way other than how they have, would be in bad judgment. They are not sweeping it under the rug, only releasing facts as they are known.
I hardly believe, that anyone at Disney takes this whole thing with anything but the utmost grief and sympathy for the family. The same as all of us fans of Disney do as well.
I won't question what the driver of that truck experienced in that tragedy. He clearly didn't mean to do it.
However--I was in a VERY VERY SIMILAR accident in 1994 (on my sister's birthday en route down I-75 to Busch Gardens).
A garbage truck lost its drive shaft. He had no concern that he left it there--he pulled over about a quarter mile ahead and stayed in his cab.
The drive shaft bounced in the interstate and I had a vehicle in front of me that swerved, a vehicle to my right and a vehicle behind me and my only option was to drive over it--which thankfully it was on a down-bounce (touching the ground at the moment I encountered it).
I pulled over not knowing what happened (all the above information was what we discovered in the next several minutes after the incident.)
Thankfully know injuries--but it ripped my clutch out.
Long story short--the garbage truck company towed in my car, gave us free Busch Gardens tickets and promised to pay for repairs. For the next two months my parents went around in circles (don't ask me why they didn't file for insurance other than the company was, it seemed, taking full responsibility). Only when my parents threatened to sue--did they finally pay the bill and we got the car back.
I was not the only driver in the incident--yet due to my age, the company leads tried to blame my age and get out of paying the bill.
The bad thing IMHO, even now all these years later--the tag on the truck was expired and the FHP officer just let them go without citation. I think that it made it more tempting for the company to get out of it.
The pain of losing someone in the car accident due to debris is unimaginable. But honestly, in my experience when noone had even a scratch, I would have expected my parents to sue the pants off of the company if there was a fatality.
It is the law to keep your vehicle in proper working order. It is not normal for parts to just randomly fall off.
Just b/c someone says they are sorry--doesn't make them not responsible for what they caused so while I feel sorry that he lost everything--he likely would have been found at fault without the roadside apology.
Just wanted to throw my $.02 having been inches away from a similar fate. (My truck driver was a jerk in any case.)
As for Disney--no company in their right mind would admit to anything until an investigation is complete. It isn't a sign of a cover up or anything.
It's a good thing the monorail wasn't fully loaded or there would have been a lot more injuries.. Those seats tend to be slippery as is and people would have been flying all over inside those cars..
