Jul 5, 2009 6:59 pm US/Eastern
Disney Employee Killed In Monorail Crash
1st Deadly Monorail Accident In Its 38-Year History
ORLANDO (CBS4) ―
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The operator of a monorail train at Walt Disney World died in a crash with another train early Sunday morning.
CNN/CBS
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The driver of a monorail train at Walt Disney World was killed in a crash early Sunday morning.
CNN/CBS
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Witnesses said a blue monorail train ran into the red monorail train (pictured here).
Nick Bourne/CBS
A Walt Disney World employee was killed when two monorail trains collided early Sunday morning.
The trains were transporting guests leaving the theme park after a Fourth of July fireworks show when the accident occurred around 2 a.m., according to Bo Jones, deputy chief for Reedy Creek Fire Department. The operator of one of the trains, identified as Austin Wuennenberg, 21, was killed; the driver of the second train was taken to the hospital. Witnesses said Wuennenberg had to be cut out of the train. Five park guests who were on one the trains were treated for minor injuries. The cause of the crash, which happened near the ticket and transportation center, is under investigation.
Ethan Meus, who was visiting the theme park from Dubuque, Iowa, said he and his family took the monorail to dinner at a resort hotel Saturday night and didn't notice any problems with the train.
"It's pretty shocking to hear that a driver was killed in that accident," Meus said.
Following the crash, Disney released the following statement:
"Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and those who have lost a friend and coworker. The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority. The monorail is out of service and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the appropriate next steps."
Mark Griffin
Vice-President of Public Affairs
This was the first deadly crash involving the monorail system at Walt Disney World in its 38-year history. EPCOT opened at its normal time on Sunday but the monorail to the park was not in service. About a dozen guards wearing blue Disney security uniforms guarded the monorail station Sunday morning and prevented visitors from approaching the area.
"It's a bit shocking," said 22-year-old Danielle Williams who was visiting the park from London. "Disney seems so perfect."
Wuennenberg was a student at Stetson University and lived in DeLand, which is an hour long drive from the theme park.
A former Stetson classmate Brandon Ross, 22, described Wuennenberg as responsible and scheduling his classes around his job.
"He seemed to be a pretty safe person," Ross said. "He's not reckless at all."
Ross added that Wuennenberg was majoring in computer science.
"He was really good with computers."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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