Disney Monorail Crash: Driver Was Killed and Another 7 Injured

Two Walt Disney World monorails crashed into each other at about 2 a.m. Sunday, July 5th, at the end of Disney’s popular 4th of July celebration.

Disney monorail pink and Disney monorail purple crashed near the Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center, where guests board the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, its resort hotels, or Epcot.

One driver was killed during the Disney monorail crash, according to the Orlando Sentinel, and seven guests were on board but were not seriously injured. The two monorail trains were reported to be transporting guests to and from the Epcot theme park.

The operator of the other Disney monorail train was taken to the hospital, but was uninjured, according to a statement from the Reedy Creek Fire Department.

The Disney Monorail first driver had to be cut out of his cab and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two employees and five guests on both trains were not injured.

Witnesses said the Disney monorail crash took place on the EPCOT track near the Disney World parking lot as people were leaving the park following a Fourth of July fireworks show.

“Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and co-worker,” Mike Griffin, Disney World Disney Monorail Crash Kills One vice president of public affairs, said in a statement.

“The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority. The monorail is out of service as we continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the appropriate next steps,” Griffin said.

It was the first fatal accident in the Disney World monorail’s 38-year history.

Disney monorail crash raises several questions:

1. Why didn’t the monorail’s fail-safe computer system kick in, shutting down the monorails’ computerized operating systems when they came too close to each other?
2. Since Disney’s monorail system has a communications and navigation system similar to an air traffic control tower, how did this tragic accident occur?
3. Each monorail train is equipped with front and rear headlights and a horn, in addition to a communications system. Why didn’t the driver stop when he or she saw the other monorail train ahead?
4. Did the driver suffer from exhaustion, a heart attack, or some other health condition at the time of the crash?
5. What steps will Disney take to make the monorail system safer for drivers and guests?

CNN began reporting the Disney monorail crash early this morning, broadcasting horrifying images of monorails pink and purple locked in a fatal embrace. Monorail drivers are often retirees who enjoy working at Disney for the employee benefits and the atmosphere. The monorail is rather simple to control: push the lever forward to control direction and speed; backward to reverse. There is no steering wheel. Disney allows up to four guests to ride inside the driver’s cab while it is in motion.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash. Meanwhile Disney World copes with a shocking accident, the death of a cast member, adverse publicity, and its own search into the causes of this gruesome accident, which should have been averted.

Disney Monorail Crash Video