Cast Member Killed

[KNWVIKING]

***"Is this accident just a tragic mistake or can it be related to the continuous decline in standards that have taken place at WDW? "***

IMO it was just an accident, probably caused by the CM doing something he's done a hundred times before. When we get good at doing a task,we tend to ignore the published safety precautions. How many of us "close the cover before striking" ?
How many woodworkers have lost fingers because they pushed the last few inches of a board thru a band saw by hand,rather then using another piece of wood. It's human nature to believe "it won't happen to me".

 

[Kaycee]

Is this accident just a tragic mistake or can it be related to the continuous decline in standards that have taken place at WDW?

Please don't turn the tragic death of someone who was loved by so many at Disney into another opportunity to bash Disney.

If you truly feel the need to criticize Disney, you certainly have the right. But while we are all so saddened by this loss is not the time.

A thorough investigation into this accident is taking place, and if Disney was in any way at fault I'm sure that will be found out. In the meantime, all reports indicate this was a horrible accident. Unfortunately, horrible accidents can happen anywhere.

 

[caseymaureen]

2BoysMum&Dad-
I've never personaly worn a costume, so I don't know this from my own experience. From what I've heard it's an average of 20 degrees hotter inside the costume than whatever it is outside, and the head makes it seem like you're wearing blinders, i.e. you can only see directly in front of you. This is why the character performers are forbidden to back up- they can't see at all beside or behind them.
Very sad, indeed.

 

[mrsltg]

I'm just curious if any safety measures were cut that could have prevented this death.

Yes, they cut off his feet. The man TRIPPED. Have you ever tripped? Was it a result of your employer not emptying the garbage fast enough & employing cost saving measures? Or was it a freak accident?

Sadly, this is the case of wrong place, wrong time. He tripped and was run over. This is horribly tragic and I truly hope that those employees who witnessed it and especially those on the float will get counseling. I feel for his family and his CM family. What a terrible accident.

As far as his sister already setting the stage for a lawsuit, it sickens me. He's not even cold yet, maybe you can wait to count the $$$?

Erin

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by DukeStreetKing
Is this accident just a tragic mistake or can it be related to the continuous decline in standards that have taken place at WDW?

I understand your thoughts and won't bash you for them...

As a CM at MK and a friend of Javier's, it was a Tragic accident. I was not there when it happened but from what I have been told he simply tripped. Something we all do on a daily basis... I trip all the time, kind of scary to think about it that way. No one was at fault here, the float was already staged to be sent out into Frontierland, he was walking up in front of the finale float and tripped unfortunatley in the path of the Princess Float (remember this is a 3 peice float so the driver who is in the first peice can not see the last peice so is no way at fault). I really don't think that any type of precaution could have prevented this...it was an unforeseable accident.

 

[mitros]

How good is the float drivers visability? On some of the Disney floats you cannot even tell where the driver is. I assume visability for a driver and a CM in a costume are both impaired to a certain extent.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

LibertyBelle,

Thanks for understanding my posting. I already put on my flak jacket before I posted because I knew some people would take offense at it.

I asked my questions, knowing full well that it was an accident and accidents do happen. When the characters are out and about in the park to meet the kids and sign autographs, they have a "handler" to make sure things go smoothly and to escort the character around. With all the activity that I imagine goes on behind the scenes for the parades, wouldn't it make sense to have some kind of "handler" for the parade characters? I'm not saying they should walk to parade route, but perhaps just at the entrance to the parade to make sure something like this doesn't happen. From a previous posting, I learned that they have all kinds of personnel at the end of the route to assist the characters.

I love Disney. It has provided me with many, many good times and memories, however, I am not so blinded by the magic that I don't realize it is a business and the important thing is the bottom line. I ask questions because I have them, not because I want to bash Disney, Michael Eisner or anyone else.

Ok, now the fire retardant suit is on as well, so everyone feel free to flame on!

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by mitros
How good is the float drivers visability? On some of the Disney floats you cannot even tell where the driver is. I assume visability for a driver and a CM in a costume are both impaired to a certain extent.

The float drivers visability is limited but visibility in this case was not the problem. The float is a 3 peice unit that is coupled together. The driver is in the very front (obviously) and Javier was coming up behind it when he tripped. Unfortunatley there was nothing the float driver could have done as he would not have been able to even see the incident, which occured behind him. The floats are all equiped with an emergency stop button so if anything occurs on the parade route any of the walking performers can stop the float immediatly, however in this instance it all happened so fast, there was nothing that they could have done. The particular float is the largest one in the parade and is difficult to maneuver... the float drivers start off small and work their way up to the big floats. The drivers of that float have a lot of experience under their belt. On that subject Javier was also a float driver (usually for Spectro Magic) so he was aware of the dangers surrounding the float and what the driver can and can not see.

This was a tragic accident. Javier simply tripped in the wrong place. There is no fault, there is no blame, it was just his time.


DUKESTREETKING:
There are also a lot of people around at parade step off. The charaters are not supposed to walk up before their float as it is a very tight space. Once the float is staged and ready to go into the park the characters for that unit walk up to be with it. From my understanding Javier had come up just before his float as he did everyday and simply tripped. If the Princess Float was staged and ready to go then the finale float would be sitting right behind it and Javier's postion in the parade was a walking character in front of the finale float. He was not in the wrong place he just tripped at the wrong time.

 

[Lori in CNY]

My deepest sympathy to Javier's family and friends and to the CMs who worked with him at the Magic Kingdom.

I am also so saddened by this and feel terribly for the driver of this float who must be torn up over this. While it was not anyone's fault, they must still feel just awful.

So sad for everyone...

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by mrsltg
As far as his sister already setting the stage for a lawsuit, it sickens me. He's not even cold yet, maybe you can wait to count the $$$?

I was very saddened by the news early this morning and I quickly put children's shows on so my 2 DD's wouldn't hear it but just a few seconds after being shocked and saddened, I then got angry when I heard that the family is already thinking of suing Disney for "Wrongful Death". How could they possibly be thinking this ALREADY!!?? It hasn't even been 24 hours yet. Sounds like a tragic accident that could happen any where, any time to any one and so far, it doesn't seem to be Disney's fault.

My heart goes out to all those mourning this wonderful CM.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by DukeStreetKing
Ok, now the fire retardant suit is on as well, so everyone feel free to flame on!

 

[missydisney]

Waht a terrible accident. We should all pray for this Fine gentlemen and his family. While he finds peace in heaven, we should pray that his family will find peace and understanding that this was a horrific addicent, but it was an accident. That their friends and family may comfort them and lead them thru this ordeal.

 

[King Triton]

I will miss Pluto.

 

[bearloch]

I may get bashed for this But He was a Disney Employee who knew the risks and dangers and promblems of wearing the suit He had a accident and died it was a accident, nothing more nothing less I hope the family can accept this and let it be would they try to sue disney if he had died in a car accident on his way to work?? Im sure that they will get some sort of compansion through life insurance of workmand comp, But to sue disney over this unless there is more information out there is silly! I believe every cast member who wears a cosutme knows there is some risk to injury when you have such limited vision and moving ability he chose to continue it was his choice and I believe he enjoyed hi job or he would have quit! it is a loss and I pray for his family and the CM at the park and that Disney does the right thing by his family !

 

[Samirella]

Originally posted by DukeStreetKing
LibertyBelle,

With all the activity that I imagine goes on behind the scenes for the parades, wouldn't it make sense to have some kind of "handler" for the parade characters? I'm not saying they should walk to parade route, but perhaps just at the entrance to the parade to make sure something like this doesn't happen.

There was a co-worker nearby that Javier had been interacting with. The accident just happened too fast to be prevented.

 

[gshoemate]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
I was very saddened by the news early this morning and I quickly put children's shows on so my 2 DD's wouldn't hear it but just a few seconds after being shocked and saddened, I then got angry when I heard that the family is already thinking of suing Disney for "Wrongful Death". How could they possibly be thinking this ALREADY!!?? It hasn't even been 24 hours yet. Sounds like a tragic accident that could happen any where, any time to any one and so far, it doesn't seem to be Disney's fault.

My heart goes out to all those mourning this wonderful CM.

My thoughts exactly. It was on the 11:00 news last night and in the broadcast the family said they were already looking into legal action. My first thought was "he hasn't even been gone for 12 hours yet and there already thinking lawsuit". They said it could take up to 2 weeks for OSHA to investigate and the family didn't even wait 12 hours to mention lawsuit. Thats what life insurance is for, in the event of an accident your family will be taken care of.

Don't get me wrong, my thoughts go out to this family. I know a few CM's that work MK parades and I was very concerned for them at the beginning because the name wasn't released.

 

[LibertyBelle]

I just wanted to send my Cheers to the Parade entertainment cast. I was a friend of Javier's but not in Entertainment. I understand the show must go on but I wanted to write and say that they DID run the Share a Dream Come True Parade yesterday (without any show stops and minus the snowglobe Princess float, they used the old Remember the Magic float) and simply hearing the music made me cry. I have the ut-most respect for each and everyone of those performers who went into work yesterday, put on their costumes and forced a smile out to create the Disney Magic that they do so well. It was a very difficult time for all involved and they did a very brave thing in my book. Many members of the Guest Relations and Main Street team were out on the steps of City Hall clapping for them as we can only imagine what they were going through. It took courage and strenghth to do the parade and I applaud all of them for going out there yesterday and doing exactlly what Javier would ahve wanted them to. He Loved his job, he loved being in the parades, he loved making people smile and he would not have wanted anything different.

 

[beattyfamily]

Wow, that's so brave of them. Reading your post made me cry all over again.

I think it's going to be very difficult for those CM who work at MK and especially the parade for some time to come. I feel so badly for everyone involved!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I am surprised at the lawsuit too. Anything I have read or heard does not sound like neglect on Disney's part. It sounds like something that could have happened to anyone at anytime. You trip. You fall. It happens.
Heck, I fell that night in front of ASMo -- out into the street. I was lucky. I could have fallen into the path of an oncoming car. Disney's neglect? No.
Maybe the family is hoping for a payout in a nuisance suit. But most likely they are just taking their anger out on Disney.
My hearts go out to them and all CMs.

 

[wishuponastarforever]

Libertybelle
Thank you so much for the insight into the person Javier Cruz was.
Your post about the parade taking place yesterday was heart warming and heart wrenching all at the same time.
I for one will never look at the parades or any of the CM's without feeling a whole new respect and love.
Please keep us up to date when a fund is established for his children. I'm sure many would like to participate.
My prayers to all who knew him.