Last week an employee injury closed Dueling Dragons at Universal Orlando, and in the early morning hours of July 5^th two monorails collide at Walt Disney World, killing at least one person (the 21-year old driver) and injuring others on board. 

According to the Orlando Sentinel, it is the first fatal accident in the 38-year history of the park’s system; however Disneyland in California has had at least one death on its monorail system.  Prior monorail accidents resulting in serious injuries are listed below:

• Feb. 12, 1974: A monorail train occupied only by its driver ran into the rear of one crammed with 200 passengers. The 20-year-old driver suffered serious injuries and underwent surgery. Two guests were slightly injured. The driver said the brakes failed.
• June 26, 1985: A fire engulfed the rear of a monorail train, forcing the evacuation of more than 240 people. Passengers in at least two of the train’s six cars clambered onto the roof, 30feet above the ground, to escape smoke and flames. Seven passengers suffered from smoke inhalation and other complaints. The fire was blamed on friction caused when flat rubber tires on one side of the train caused the train to tilt. Sparks were then generated by friction between the train’s undercarriage and the concrete lip of the rail.
• Aug. 30, 1991: Two Disney employees filming a commercial were slightly injured when a monorail train bumped a camera platform on which the employees were working.
• Aug. 12, 1996: An electrical fire occurred while a train pulled into the Magic Kingdom station. The driver and five passengers exited safely.

But did you know that in the United States, there is no national record of theme park accidents.  And in Florida, and many other states, theme parks are not required by law to report accidents to anyone or release any information about injuries or deaths that occur on property.  However, online communities such as Theme Park Insider track and compile amusement park safety data that the public is entitled to be aware of.   The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the accident which according to ClickOrlando.com was described by eyewitnesses as “the most horrific thing I have personally experienced.”  For more information on Theme Park Safety, please view our website concerning Theme & Amusement Park Accidents.

Millions of passengers safely ride the monorail system each day, which is why this accident comes as such a surprise.  Disney has a system to prevent collisions, MAPO or Mary Poppins, as it is known to monorail fans, is designed to stop trains automatically if they get too close to one another.  The monorails are also equipped with data recorders, black boxes, which could provide useful information in determining the cause of the accident.  One early theory is that one of the trains was switching tracks, which requires the monorail pilot to override the anti-crash system.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of an amusement park or theme park accident or sustained an injury, please call the Central Florida Offices of the Kane Law Firm, P.A. in Orlando, Florida at (407) 898-9130, submit a contact form on our website, or email us at Info@KaneInjury.com.

We offer a free initial consultation, and if we agree to take your case, we will work on a contingency basis. This means we will get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds.