monorail accident

[copwife92]

Monorail crash at Walt Disney World kills driver



WESH.com

Published: July 5, 2009

WESH.com website

The operator of a monorail at Walt Disney World died Sunday morning when two monorails crashed.
According to the Reedy Creek Fire Department, the accident happened about 2 a.m. at the ticket and transportation area, where people catch the monorail to get to the Magic Kingdom from the parking lot. The driver of the other train was taken to the hospital.

About five or six guests were on the monorail at the time of the accident, but they are not seriously injured.

It is not known how the two trains crashed. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

The monorail began operations in 1971. Each monorail can carry more than 350 people between the parking lot, hotels, the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

 

[mcoslit]

I really thought that kind of thing was impossible on the monrails. I guess all part of the 'magical thinking'.

As I leave for Disney TONIGHT!

 

[Cheloconnell]

Wow - I can't believe it. I wonder how he died. I can only imagine that would happen if they hit head on. The monorail is so long that I would have thought if they hit from behind, the rest of the monorail would have absorbed the impact.

 

[SFD998]

There had to have been a failure of the automatic safety systems. I have to assume that they have some type of automatic braking or shutdown. You can't rely on the driver exclusively even from the stand point of the driver suffering from a medical emergency.

I wouldn't be surprised if they stop allowing guests to ride in the front at least for awhile.

 

[momx2]

I wouldn't be surprised if they stop allowing guests to ride in the front at least for awhile.

That was my first thought also. Prayers go out to the driver's family.

 

[Grendalynn]

So tragic and horrible.... I hope the reason for this horrible accident is known or figured out, otherwise I think it could/may make many people skeptical to ride it...

Has there ever been a monorail accident in the past?? I think this may be the first one ever or a loooong time anyway. Hope the rails are all safe and sound and things continue to flow smoothly! Knowing Disney they will try to keep this on the down low...

Prayers and thoughts are with the family of the loved one who was lost....

 

[jenbear123]

I'm in shock! It's so sad when something like this happens at the "most magical place on earth" Here's an article from CNN with pictures:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/05/u.s.disney.monorail/

 

[msmayor]

Wow - I can't believe it. I wonder how he died. I can only imagine that would happen if they hit head on. The monorail is so long that I would have thought if they hit from behind, the rest of the monorail would have absorbed the impact.

If you saw the picture after the accident you'd clearly see how he died...the driver's cab was INSIDE the rear of the monorail in front.

 

[TinaLala]

I never thought that could happen. They're saying a family of 6 were rescued. I'm just really surprised this happened because they have so many safety things set up and they call ahead and talk on the radio so often.

 

[dmaz]

Very Sad story.
Hope they get it figured out quickly and the monorail is up and running again.

 

[momofrrr]

So sorry for the families involved. Disney has an amazing safety record when you consider the volume of people on a daily basis. I am soooo ready to get there. We are praying for them all.

 

[mickeymum]

This is so sad!here is a video that was posted.

http://www.clickorlando.com/video/19956043/index.html

 

[tam626]

So tragic! Thank God there was no one in the front with him.

 

[ms_missy66]

So sad! I'm sending a big prayer to everyone involved, especially the family of the driver who passed. :-(

Now I just need to keep this story from my little ones. They'll be soooooo upset.

 

[Doc CW]

There isnt much to say when things like this happen. My thoughts and prayers with the families and people involved.

 

[raven69david]

Wow. Saw the video. Apparently the drivers cab is fiberglass while the wall behind him and through the rest of the train is steel. With all of the safety features installed for guest safety on the monorails, I don't see how something like this happened unless the driver had some type of incident that rendered him helpless to take evasive action to avoid colliding with the monorail in front of him. Regardless, it is a senseless tragedy and can't wait to hear the official cause of the crash, provided Disney does not try to cover it up. My condolences to the drivers family and the people at the station who had to witness that.

 

[AuroraBeauty]

My understanding of the situation, from other CMs, is that Monorail Purple was stationary at Epcot side of TTC allowing guests to disembark and that Monorail Pink was given authorization to back in to the station. If the MAPO red light was on warning him of a nearby vehicle he (there is confirmation it was a male pilot) he likely went in to override because he was given clearance to back in to the station. It is likely that Monorail Pink was at the maximum speed of 15mph when it collided with Monorail Purple, unable to see Monorail Purple from the curve and having been given explicit authorization to engage in backing up.

If this is in fact the case, the pilot of Monorail Purple should be hailed as a hero for sacrificing his life for the guests on his monorail. He could have tried to back out to avoid being hit but that could have injured guests.

May G-D bless his soul! And may the driver of Monorail Pink be blessed and comforted as well.

 

[lanasboys]

How awful! My thoughts and prayers are with all involved. I'm sure Disney will tighten and enforce the safety guidelines or maybe even add new ones to ensure this tragedy never repeats itself.

 

[msmayor]

My understanding of the situation, from other CMs, is that Monorail Purple was stationary at Epcot side of TTC allowing guests to disembark and that Monorail Pink was given authorization to back in to the station. If the MAPO red light was on warning him of a nearby vehicle he (there is confirmation it was a male pilot) he likely went in to override because he was given clearance to back in to the station. It is likely that Monorail Pink was at the maximum speed of 15mph when it collided with Monorail Purple, unable to see Monorail Purple from the curve and having been given explicit authorization to engage in backing up.

If this is in fact the case, the pilot of Monorail Purple should be hailed as a hero for sacrificing his life for the guests on his monorail. He could have tried to back out to avoid being hit but that could have injured guests.

May G-D bless his soul! And may the driver of Monorail Pink be blessed and comforted as well.

In all the times we've used the monorail, I can't recall the driver remaining in the cab while it was stopped in the station; I always remember them exiting, and not returning until it was time to leave.

Even if he was in the cab, and folks were exiting, its surprising he wouldn't have seen Pink backing into him and bolted out of the driver's seat.

 

[NorweJenNY]

In all the times we've used the monorail, I can't recall the driver remaining in the cab while it was stopped in the station; I always remember them exiting, and not returning until it was time to leave.

Even if he was in the cab, and folks were exiting, its surprising he wouldn't have seen Pink backing into him and bolted out of the driver's seat.

I read somewhere that the victim had recently posted on Facebook that he was working a lot of double shifts lately... common during holiday periods. Perhaps he had fallen asleep? It was really late.

I'm thinking that if this is the case, perhaps Disney needs to take into consideration the safety of the CMs and guests when giving hours to their employees. When you think about the lives that can be in the hands of a driver of some form of guest transportation, I wouldn't want them to be working double shifts. Kinda like airplane pilots... they need to switch and have some sleep if their flight is a certain length of time.