Driver killed in monorail crash....

[Flametamr]

Don't know if its allowed but here is a blurry picture of the crash scene. Its obvious the driver was crushed. My prayers are with his family and co-workers.
http://www.clickorlando.com/2009/0705/19955739_640X360.jpg

 

[sbell111]

... Thank goodness the monorail was empty. Must say that the monorail system as a whole is amazing since this is the first accident in the history of WDW. ...

1) News reports state that a family of five was onboard at the time of the accident.

2) This is not the first accident in the history of WDW. It isn't even the first similar accident.

 

[jenseib]

It makes you think too, not to ride in the back of a train either.

 

[kkayluvsdis]

I just read this this morning as well. Definitely something that one doesn't think of happening in the Happiest Place on Earth! Prayers to the family.

 

[ParrotBill]

It's not hard to see these scenarios could all cause it:
- failed transmitter and a sleepy driver
- incapacitated driver and air brakes did not work

The pictures make it look like the moving monorail was going a good 20-30mph when it hit.

It is not a difficult retrofit to put in far better safety system, I bet that will happen soon.

 

[Disneylover:)]

This is such a tragic accident. My heart go's out to the drivers family.

 

[Becky2005]

Also, I bet that there will be no more driver cabin passengers. Could you imagine if a family had been in there too?

I was stunned when I first read this, then it hit me that HOLY COW what if there had been a family in there! I know we have done it before.

So very sad for the driver.

 

[laceemouse]

So sad for the driver's family. I imagine the family on the monorail was shaken up! Awful!!

 

[sbell111]

It is not a difficult retrofit to put in far better safety system, I bet that will happen soon.

They already have a good safety plan in place. Clearly, it wasn't perfect, but I suspect that they will merely identify the bit that broke down and fix it, rather than institute an entirely new system.

 

[ArielRae]

We just heard the news and I immediately came to the Dis. Very sad news. My heart goes out to the drivers family.

I did the same. Heard about it on the news and came right here to learn more.

 

[Sammie]

I would imagine that rides in the front with the driver will be discontinued from this point on.

And yes after the crash in DC, it does make one hestiant to ride in the front and last car of any train.

My prayers are with the family of the driver and thankfully no one else was hurt.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

So sad. I'm just thankful this happened late, and not when the monorail was full, or a family riding up front.

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

So sad. I really feel for the family. What a horrible tragedy.
(I agree with other post, the rides in the front with the driver may be a thing of the past. )
It is so sad, when horrible things happen. But, even more of a blow when it happens in such a magical place.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

I wonder if the driver wasn't already incapacitated already (heart attack or something). Just seems like it would be too difficult to slam into another train full-speed unless something really unusual happened...

That was my thought, precisely. The recent history of similar events around the country would suggest driver error.

 

[Sabi]

God Bless CM Family.
I feel that Monorails are a most secure and safe transport system.
The Walt Disney World monorail system has been in continuous operation since 1971.
The current model of monorail began operation in 1990, with the full fleet of 12 in service by early 1991. The Mark VI has a higher passenger capacity as well as improved air conditioning, door systems and improved safety features.
The 13.6 mile monorail system will carry over 150,000 guests to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot parks on an average day.
More than 1000.000.000 guests from 1971, only 1 tragedy ends bad.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Why was it running at 2AM in the morning? The park closes at what, 11PM? Was it employees on the train compared to park guests?

They had July 4th festivities last night. Plus, WDW transportation runs until every guest is out of the park. There was a family of six aboard.

 

[TLP127]

My children and I were on Monorail Pink just two hours before this happened! As always they wanted to be up front, but I was so tired that I told them we were just getting in the first car we came to so we could get home. I am so sad for the driver's family as well as for the Disney family, which my mother is a part of.

I have to wonder though, if there was a family up front and the driver was falling asleep, could the family have woken him and the accident been avoided, or was the monorail system supposed to stop the train when it sensed it was getting too close?

 

[aurora23]

My prayers go out to the CM's family.

 

[lilandvisma]

how shocking and sad.....we were just there and never even thought twice about things prior to stepping on the monorail. Thoughts and prayers out to all involved. I am just shocked. wow.

 

[KigerKat]

When we rode in the front last time, the driver told us that the system automatically shuts the train down if it gets too close to another one and the driver fails to stop.

In order for this to happen, it seems that there would have been several failures in their system and the driver would have had to been in a situation where they didn't have a clue the train was in front of them.

We rode in the front a couple of times on our last trip, and I remember the driver telling us the same thing when I asked her why we had made an unexpected stop in the middle of the track. She told us that the "MaPo" (short for Mary Poppins - the movie that basically funded most of the safety system/Monorail) system automatically shuts down if one car gets too close to another. Even though we couldn't see where the car in front of us was, the tracks knew we were too close and shut out car down temporarily.

I can only think that it must have been a malfunction with the safety computer. I feel so bad for the family - what a tragedy.