Three Disney workers have died this summer after being involved in accidents at the company’s parks in Florida (FL) and California (CA). The latest tragedy occurred August 18, when stunt player Anislav Varbanov suffered a fatal head injury while rehearsing for the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Earlier, pirate re-enactor Mark Priest passed away after breaking his neck during a performance of Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Anaheim, and monorail operator Austin Wuennenber died when his train collided with another at the Magic Kingdom.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened investigations into each of the fatal accidents, and the National Transportation Safety Board is looking into the monorail crash. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Disney theme park incidents are the subject of 17 ongoing OSHA investigations.
Whatever investigators turn up, the reality that amusement park workers face many dangers, ranging from slips and falls to vehicle crashes, is undeniable. And, as a 2005 report from the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates, 67 visitors to theme parks, water parks, carnivals and other places where thrill rides and entertainment are offered were killed in accidents between 1987 and 2004.
Fortunately, serious accidents at Busch Gardens Williamsburg or Kings Dominion outside of Richmond have occurred rarely. Smaller attractions have a more spotty safety record in Virginia, however. And it is certainly true that there are no small tragedies to the people who suffer them.
About the Editors: Shapiro & Appleton& Duffan personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers with Shapiro & Appleton& Duffan are licensed in VA, NC, SC, WV, DC and KY. They handle car, truck, railroad, medical negligence cases and more.
EJL