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Breaking News: Big Thunder Train Derails At DL
- Thread starter s25843
- Start date
PurpleFigment
New Member
11 injured, 1 critical
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- A locomotive broke loose on Disneyland's
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster Friday, injuring 11
riders, at least one of them critically, police and hospital
officials said.
TV helicopters showed a triage unit set up near the ride and one
person being taken on a stretcher to an ambulance.
The roller coaster takes amusement park visitors on a twisting,
turning ride aboard what is supposed to be a runaway train in the
Old West. Riders zoom through mineshafts and caverns, past falling
rocks and tumbling waterfalls.
I watched the raw video of the chopper over the scene...unfortunately you can't see much other than an ambulance!
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- A locomotive broke loose on Disneyland's
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster Friday, injuring 11
riders, at least one of them critically, police and hospital
officials said.
TV helicopters showed a triage unit set up near the ride and one
person being taken on a stretcher to an ambulance.
The roller coaster takes amusement park visitors on a twisting,
turning ride aboard what is supposed to be a runaway train in the
Old West. Riders zoom through mineshafts and caverns, past falling
rocks and tumbling waterfalls.
I watched the raw video of the chopper over the scene...unfortunately you can't see much other than an ambulance!
thumper
Active Member
This is so sad - just read this on Yahoo news. The latest report now confirms one man died on the ride, but no details yet on how the locomotive broke loose. Based on the Associated Press video, it looks like they brought the medics and ambulances right on the DL pathways ( could be behind the scenes though). Does anyone know if the park has been closed? Or just Frontierland?
RU42
New Member
I suggest visting NBC4.com for pretty good coverage.
The ride is closed (obviously) but the park remains open.
A triage unit was set up next to the ride, looks like a police cruiser was there too.
I would assume they closed the path behind the ride, the one that leads from Fantasyland to Frontier land - they would just divert people around that whole area, wouldn't be hard to do.
RU
The ride is closed (obviously) but the park remains open.
A triage unit was set up next to the ride, looks like a police cruiser was there too.
I would assume they closed the path behind the ride, the one that leads from Fantasyland to Frontier land - they would just divert people around that whole area, wouldn't be hard to do.
RU
PurpleFigment
New Member
One DEAD
From the Associated Press Wire:
Authorities say one person was
killed in a roller coaster accident at Disneyland and ten others
were injured.
Officials say a locomotive broke loose from a train in a tunnel
on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
An Anaheim, California, city spokesman says the man who died at
the scene had to be extricated from the first passenger car where
he'd been riding. Earlier, a hospital reported one victim in
critical condition, while police say the injuries ranged from
moderate to minor. Eight people were taken to the hospital.
It's also unclear how many people were on the train because some
left the area on their own after the accident.
The roller coaster takes people on a twisting, turning ride
aboard what is supposed to be a runaway train in the Old West.
From the Associated Press Wire:
Authorities say one person was
killed in a roller coaster accident at Disneyland and ten others
were injured.
Officials say a locomotive broke loose from a train in a tunnel
on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
An Anaheim, California, city spokesman says the man who died at
the scene had to be extricated from the first passenger car where
he'd been riding. Earlier, a hospital reported one victim in
critical condition, while police say the injuries ranged from
moderate to minor. Eight people were taken to the hospital.
It's also unclear how many people were on the train because some
left the area on their own after the accident.
The roller coaster takes people on a twisting, turning ride
aboard what is supposed to be a runaway train in the Old West.
![Dean[AU]](https://d3ofq03apmfb8c.cloudfront.net/data/avatars/m/8/8019.jpg?1339212325){kind=avatar}
PurpleFigment
New Member
No-Fly Zone
Dean --
The no-fly zone rules get kind of tricky when it comes to the media. I don't know the exact cases in the Los Angeles market, but quite often television stations can obtain general waivers to fly their choppers in areas designated as no-fly zones. These are normally requested so stations don't have to fly in a big circle on the way to breaking news. I don't know if any of the stations in Los Angeles have sucessfully obtained one of these waivers for the Disneyland area, but it is a possibility.
There are more likely possibilities, though. In the event of a tragedy like this, it's not totally unusual for media to receive temporary access to the usually restricted air space. Another possibility is that the authorities requested that media choppers get into the area to aid in their investigation (this is quite common).
Then, there's the one more scenario: they may not have been in the restricted area at all. It's amazing the kind of distance helicopter cameras can be at! The camera on my station's chopper can zero in on anything up to THREE MILES away! It's possible to read license plate numbers at that distance.
I don't know which scenario applies in this case, but those are some of the possibilities!
Dean --
The no-fly zone rules get kind of tricky when it comes to the media. I don't know the exact cases in the Los Angeles market, but quite often television stations can obtain general waivers to fly their choppers in areas designated as no-fly zones. These are normally requested so stations don't have to fly in a big circle on the way to breaking news. I don't know if any of the stations in Los Angeles have sucessfully obtained one of these waivers for the Disneyland area, but it is a possibility.
There are more likely possibilities, though. In the event of a tragedy like this, it's not totally unusual for media to receive temporary access to the usually restricted air space. Another possibility is that the authorities requested that media choppers get into the area to aid in their investigation (this is quite common).
Then, there's the one more scenario: they may not have been in the restricted area at all. It's amazing the kind of distance helicopter cameras can be at! The camera on my station's chopper can zero in on anything up to THREE MILES away! It's possible to read license plate numbers at that distance.
I don't know which scenario applies in this case, but those are some of the possibilities!
OliveMcFly
Well-Known Member
I think this is horrible. With the accident do you think ppl are gonna stray from the parks for a little while? I can't remember the last accident at any Disney park, but I'm sure there will be some impact. Anyone ever hear about the CM killed in The Carousel of Progress in the 70's?
RU42
New Member
The Orange Country Register (the local newspaper) had 4 or 5 pages to the story. They had a timeline of the 10 deaths at DL over the past 50 years.
The Columbia accident was the last death and as far as I can recall, there was no real effect to the park. Not the effect something like 9/11 had on the parks.
I was surprised to read that People Mover had 2 deaths, the most of any of the DL attractions. I guess Matterhorn also had 2 but I think one was a suicide rather then a tragic accident.
RU
The Columbia accident was the last death and as far as I can recall, there was no real effect to the park. Not the effect something like 9/11 had on the parks.
I was surprised to read that People Mover had 2 deaths, the most of any of the DL attractions. I guess Matterhorn also had 2 but I think one was a suicide rather then a tragic accident.
RU
OliveMcFly
Well-Known Member
Yes...I've heard of a People Mover death. A kid/guy got out of his mving car and was crushed underneath. I think the same with the Matterhorn. If you click on the link below (if i did tis right) it takes you to and urban legend page. It covers both FL and CA parks, plus Disney movies, and Walt himself.
http://www.snopes.com/disney/disney.asp#disney/
http://www.snopes.com/disney/disney.asp#disney/
the-reason
New Member
This is really sad to happen at the happiest place on earth, I dont think I will be running to get on BTM any more, Ill probably be a little afraid to get on space Mt. which is my favorite, although it didnt happen at WDW I still dont think Ill be rushing to ride it there, imagine you sharing a happy moment with your little sister or cousins first trip on it and something like this almost or did happen.
Do you think anybody will ride it again, and will they start shutting the rides down when it rains and when the the tracks are wet, and will they check the tracks and cars to make sure everything is in O.K. order, hopefully they'll put security cameras so they can see if anything on the tracks looks awkward.
Do you think anybody will ride it again, and will they start shutting the rides down when it rains and when the the tracks are wet, and will they check the tracks and cars to make sure everything is in O.K. order, hopefully they'll put security cameras so they can see if anything on the tracks looks awkward.
OliveMcFly
Well-Known Member
I remember 2 years ago when my bestfriend and I went it rained all week and we were turned away from BTM because it was just drizzling, so WDW takes precautions. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong but, I'm sure they check the rides every morning before the park opens. As horrible as it is I think it was just a freak accident that no one could foresee. I do agree with you though...I'm gonna feel weird about riding BTM, even at WDW, because of the accident. Yet with anything, people forget and will ride again.