HOT NEWS AROUND THE WORLD: A Disney World monorail driver was killed!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

A Disney World monorail driver was killed!

The Walt Disney World Monorail System is a public transit system in operation around the Walt Disney World Resort.

The Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating twelve Mark VI monorail trains on three lines of service.The monorail system opened in 1971 with two routes and with Mark IV monorail trains, expanded to three lines in 1982, and switched to Mark VI trains in 1989.

The driver died early Sunday when he rear-ended another train at about 2 a.m. EDT.

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

The first driver, who was not identified, had to be cut out of his cab and was pronounced dead at the scene, CFNews13.com reported.

Two employees and five guests on both trains were not injured.

Witnesses said the 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's 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.