Two Disneyworld monorail trains collided earlier today, marking the first death in the public transportation's 38-year history. The driver of the train, 21-year old Austin Wenneberg, was pronounced dead on the scene. The monorail transports about 150,000 passengers per day:
Disneyland & Disneyworld have never had a guest die due to the parks negligence. Reasons for the collision are still under investigation.
Walt Disney World spokesman Mike Griffin said the crash happened at about 2 a.m. Sunday, on one of the monorail's last runs of the day. Austin Wenneberg, 21, a Disney employee who was piloting one of the monorails died at the scene of the accident, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. One other employee was transported to Florida Hospital Celebration. The second driver's injuries were not serious, Griffin said. The trains were transporting guests leaving Epcot. Six park guests were on the train during the crash, and were evaluated by paramedics at the scene according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. The park was operating normally Sunday, except for the closure of the monorail. Guests, who were being directed to buses instead, did not seem deterred by the accident.
Disneyland & Disneyworld have never had a guest die due to the parks negligence. Reasons for the collision are still under investigation.
