UPDATE: As many as eight people are now being reported to have been injured in the crash.
A crash Tuesday afternoon involving two buses at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park has left up to eight people injured, including one who has been transported to the hospital in "very serious condition," according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A helicopter was dispatched to help with victim transportation. Fox Orlando is reporting that one of the bus drivers was the person taken away by helicopter. One bus was reportedly a Disney bus while the other was a Mears tour bus. The Mears bus, which was empty, was rear ended by the Disney vehicle. It was reportedly sitting in a thru lane at the Epcot toll plaza, with the driver outside of the bus.
The crash happened at the toll plaza, where buses enter to drop off passengers and cars pay for parking before entering the theme park lot. Orange County fire officials called their response "an extended operation." A typical Disney transportation bus is shown in the photo at upper right. The crash closed down the theme park toll plaza entrance.
Disney also released new information about its July, 2009, fatal monorail accident last week. Click here to read it. The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is currently going on at the theme park. Click here to read my report, including special photos. Click here to read more of my theme park articles, and click here for my new Disney Cruise Line Examiner column. Click here to find me on Facebook.
Photo: Manop/Wikimedia Commons
Comments
I'm surprised this hasn't happened more often. I think those bus drivers cut everything pretty short. I'm not a bus driver, so I probably shouldn't judge how they drive. Hope everyone recovered from this.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!