Driver killed in monorail crash....

[moburg]

I wonder if there was some kind of misunderstanding either with the pilot himself or in communication with someone. Since it happened at the TTC, I bet he overrode the MAPO because he thought he was switching over to another track and it wasn't switched in the right direction.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32569076&postcount=177

 

[Kurby]

it is too bad that they don't make the monorails like the city trains - in the way that you can get from one car to the next through doors at either end.

had there been a door behind the driver he could have made an escape into the first passanger car and told everyone to get down.

i know that's the seats are that way so everyone can look out and the doors are at the side but if they make the cars a little longer they could add a row of seats or two and put a door with a seat for 2 on either side. you could still have the seats running from side to side just put a space in the middle instead of a huge space from side to side.

know what i mean

 

[Nicoleclaw]

That description makes a great deal of sense. I didn't realize one train could've been backing up. In that case I feel sorry for the poor guy driving the other train, he has to live with that...and it wasn't his fault obviously if they told him to back up...assuming that's what happened.

I feel sorry for every CM up there because I'm sure they are all replaying this in their minds...lots of "what ifs".

Sad sad day indeed.

I agree. I feel terrible for all families and friends involved.

 

[surfergirl602]

I agree. I feel terrible for all families and friends involved.

This is so horrible. I just read about this. I'm sure it goes without saying that all of our thoughts, prayers, and sympathies go out to everyone involved in this horrible accident.

It' so tragic.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

This is going to sound strange....but I have a question....I hope no one takes offense to me asking, I am just trying to make sense of this horrible situation. The castmember going backwards was given clearance to do so, but he obviously cannot see. The castmember who was hit...if he had seen the train coming, could he have jumped out the door onto the platform? I have read he might not have been able to move the train if he was loading or unloading passengers.

 

[TJM1976]

The local news has announced that the monorail system will be down again on Monday. The CM killed was a member of the college program.

The CM was a CP, but lived locally.

 

[sdickison]

I'm thinking it may have been a malfunction. The monorails automatically stop at the second checkpoint of about 200 feet of another monorail on the line. it's automatic. It will automatically stop on the track. I heard that someone was on twitter saying they were saying around 9:30pm that night that the monorail system was experiencing some techinical difficulties. Haven't read that post of the details on the technical difficulties.

MK was open until 1am...4th of July, remember? And if I'm not mistaken, Disney transportation runs an hour after parks close. Makes you wonder if fatigue had anything to do with it.

It's still a horrible tragedy, no matter what.

 

[ScrapperBelle]

Thoughts and prayers to the young man's family and friends.

 

[mel&me]

Just plain awful. Gives me chills. Lets please take this time to remember a cast member that has led us to our dreams and filled are hearts with joy and fun. God bless x

Could not have said it any better myself.
Blessings to all involved and especially to Austin's family.

 

[moburg]

This is going to sound strange....but I have a question....I hope no one takes offense to me asking, I am just trying to make sense of this horrible situation. The castmember going backwards was given clearance to do so, but he obviously cannot see. The castmember who was hit...if he had seen the train coming, could he have jumped out the door onto the platform? I have read he might not have been able to move the train if he was loading or unloading passengers.

CM Austin could have also put his train in reverse to avoid the crash, but he didn't. We don't know why, and probably never will know why Austin did not jump out or reverse his train.

 

[mel&me]

CM Austin could have also put his train in reverse to avoid the crash, but he didn't. We don't know why, and probably never will know why Austin did not jump out or reverse his train.

The most logical reason would be he just did not see it.
He was stopped and may have not even been looking in that direction.
Other train came in reverse and out of the dark. Never expected.

 

[PrincessAlways]

So many unanswered questions at this point. The only known fact is that a young man lost his life. Thoughs & prayers to his family.

 

[EnchantedTales]

This is going to sound strange....but I have a question....I hope no one takes offense to me asking, I am just trying to make sense of this horrible situation. The castmember going backwards was given clearance to do so, but he obviously cannot see. The castmember who was hit...if he had seen the train coming, could he have jumped out the door onto the platform? I have read he might not have been able to move the train if he was loading or unloading passengers.

IMO, I believe there were guests on the back of the train. He couldn't, and probably didn't, want to just abandon them and jump out of the cabin. He was probably trying to find a way to avoid the collision when he was hit.

 

[FINFAN]

I hope he did not see it....I hope he did not suffer.

 

[FINFAN]

The young man that was killed was a college program guy with only a month left to go. He was 21... From one of the CM's who worked with him.

 

[seashoreCM]

The Pink mono was backing up expecting a switch to the MK Express track in order to be taken to the Monorail station for nightly storage. This is all SOP.

Apparently, the switch track was never engaged and apparently, it's very difficult from where the Pink Pilot was to really tell the switch wasn't made in the mirrors until it is too late. He didn't notice because control (whether automated or human) didn't put him where he was suppose to be.

If this is standard operating procedure then it is very bad SOP. If a monorail train goes over an unmade switch, something very bad will always happen, for example the train comes to a sudden (Bang!) stop upon hitting the switch beam out of alignment and the undercarriage gets all messed up. Let alone at a quite brisk speed like 15 MPH.

Somebody was responsible for seeing up close that the switch was set properly and also seeing that the train took the switch smoothly. Going very slowly helps too.

 

[ohioMickey]

The investigation will now focus on the switch, the control operator, and the pilot of monorail pink. Did the switch malfunction? Did the control operator throw the switch? Did the operator give the go-ahead to the pilot to back up? Pretty easy questions. Time will tell.

In the meantime, prayers to all involved!

 

[SandrA9810]

Who knows why the CM didn't move. Maybe he was trying to put the monorail in reverse, preventing injury to the family in the cab behind him. It seems strange if the purple was in station to be pushed back as far as it did, and with only the damage to the pilot's cab.

 

[fairestoneofall]

What a sad tragedy. My thoughts and prayers for the family of the CM. And I can only imagine the guilt the driver of the other monorail must feel--even though, if the reports are true, it honestly was not his fault. I'm sure he still has guilt though. Very sad indeed.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

What a sad tragedy. My thoughts and prayers for the family of the CM. And I can only imagine the guilt the driver of the other monorail must feel--even though, if the reports are true, it honestly was not his fault. I'm sure he still has guilt though. Very sad indeed.

Thanks for all the replies...I was just wondering if there had been any ideas why he was not able to get out/if he would have been able to/etc...