Disney performer fatally injured in Hollywood Studios accident
Walt Disney World stunt performer Anislav Varbanov, 30, was fatally injured during a rehearsal for the ” Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He was doing a tumbling roll after 7 p.m. Monday when he was hurt.
Disney workers dialed 911 at 7:34 p.m. to report that a cast member sustained a head injury. Varbanov was rushed to Florida Hospital Celebration Health, where he was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m., Orange County sheriff’s deputies said.
Varbanov is the the third cast member in seven weeks to die after sustaining injuries while working.
On July 5, monorail driver Austin Wuennenberg, 21, died when another train backed into his own.
On August 10, Mark Priest, 47, died from complications he experienced after a bad on-stage fall at the Magic Kingdom.
Out of respect for the deceased cast member, Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez says the Indiana Jones show was not performed Tuesday.
NTSB Agency Says It Could Be 6 Months Before Final Report on Disney Monorail Crash
The Federal agency said Wednesday they have received most of the documents they requested in the investigation of the July 5th Disney World monorail crash that killed monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in an e-mail to the media that “the documents that will become part of the investigation are employee records showing training, work history and work hours; monorail standard operating procedures; and mechanical maintenance and inspection history of the trains and switch mechanism.”
The e-mail also said that interviews have been completed with “the switch control operator, the pilot of the striking monorail train, and the monorail coordinator that was on duty on the night of the accident.”
The next report, per an NTSB spokesman, won’t likely be released for about six months.
Disney Mononrail Crash Triggered by Employee Mistakenly Radioed He Activated Track Switch
The Orlando Sentinel has spoken with multiple sources with knowledge of the accident’s investigation. The publication reports that a maintenance bay employee radioed incorrect information. This combined with a shift change when a sick employee was granted early dismissal lead to events to the deadly 2am July 5 crash which killed 21-year-old monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg.
Investigators still have work in piecing together the entire picture, including what roles everyone played. The investigation is looking to whether Alan Rubino, the driver of the second monorail, should have realized he was traveling down the wrong track. It has been determined that the maintenance bay worker’s mistake is not solely to blame.
Mother of Deceased Monorail Pilot Expects to Sue Disney
Christine Wuennenberg, mother of the Austin Wuennenberg, the monorail pilot killed in the July 5 crash, has filed a petition in Orlando state Circuit Court, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The petition filed July 9 is to preserve crucial crash evidence in Disney’s possession that she feel may be destroyed, erased or altered. She is also asking the judge to grant her access to this evidence, which includes audio and video recordings. The Orlando Sentinel reports that she expects to sue the Walt Disney and Resorts.
Disney World Suspends Policy of Guests Riding in Monorail Front for Now
Not a surprising change in wake of last Sunday’s monorail accident. Had guests been in the front of the monorail with pilot Austin Wuennenberg when the accident occurred, more lives would’ve been lost. Though I’m saddened by this policy change, as riding in the front of the monorail is quiet a magical experience. Watch the video Diane Cimino of Briton, Conn. shared with the Orlando Sentinel about the memorable experience Cimino’s 4-year-old grandson Christyan had riding in the front of the monorail piloted by Austin Wuennenberg. It’s memories such as these that make Walt Disney World special.
Hopefully this is a temporary change. I agree that Disney needs to make monorail procedural changes in the aftermath of this deadly crash. Truthfully, though, this change is more about minimizing than prevention.
