Fourth of July Monorail Incident

BriDon51 · Post by **BriDon51** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:36 am

Syndrome wrote:I was so annoyed at Fox News last night. They had a clip of one of Austin's friends saying how Disney just put him into a pilot position without proper training or completing his training. I have a feeling it was taken out of context, but the way they made it sound, it was like he was given som preliminary training and tossed into the monorails (i.e. he didn't know what he was doing, which led to the accident). I hate it when they make implications like that, especially since that seems to be far from the truth.

I always paraphrase their slogan to : "News at the speed of lies"

Syndrome · Post by **Syndrome** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:47 am

If at some point there is public memorial information or a place to send cards and condolences, someone please PM it to me so I can post it on the Celebration intranet. People there have been asking about that because he had many friends and classmates in town who are deeply saddened and want to pay their respects if possible.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:48 am

Syndrome wrote:If at some point there is public memorial information or a place to send cards and condolences, someone please PM it to me so I can post it on the Celebration intranet. People there have been asking about that because he had many friends and classmates in town who are deeply saddened and want to pay their respects if possible.

Please also PM me as well - I wouldn't be able to attend any memorial services, however I would like to send a card.

Mayonnaise · Post by **Mayonnaise** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:58 am

I was traveling for the holiday weekend, and just found out about this, and came over to check on the SGT pilots. Glad to see you're all accounted for.

Condolences to you all on the loss of a colleague and friend, and prayers for both Austin, and the unnamed pink Pilot.

8^(

kurtisnelson · Post by **kurtisnelson** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:49 pm

Syndrome wrote:I was so annoyed at Fox News last night. They had a clip of one of Austin's friends saying how Disney just put him into a pilot position without proper training or completing his training. I have a feeling it was taken out of context, but the way they made it sound, it was like he was given som preliminary training and tossed into the monorails (i.e. he didn't know what he was doing, which led to the accident). I hate it when they make implications like that, especially since that seems to be far from the truth.

This REALLY is annoying me. According to Austin's facebook page, he has been in rails since September, so he has probably had plenty of training.

Bright Scouter · Post by **Bright Scouter** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:08 pm

kurtisnelson wrote:This REALLY is annoying me. According to Austin's facebook page, he has been in rails since September, so he has probably had plenty of training.

But it's also frustrating that they are making it out like more training would have saved him. What else could he do? He was not the cause, he was the victim! I don't want to place blame on any person,,, But certainly not on him!!!!

Never having driven a monorail, I am probably not the person to be speculating, but,,,, I can't think of anything he could have done except try to back up, IF he saw it coming in time.

So, I cannot in my wildest imagination see how more training would have helped him. Or 20 years of experience on the monorail either!

Am I missing something obvious?

Syndrome · Post by **Syndrome** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:13 pm

That is what is ticking me off too. I also read he was new to driving monorails in several places and many are saying it was his fault. Nothing to back it up, just pulling it out of their rear ends. His fault? What the &^!%$? There was literally nothing he could do. I'm sure it happened so fast that even if he saw it coming, there was no time to react. I watched the video taken immediately thereafter, and it is heart-rending. Guests and a CM are calling and trying to look in to see the driver and get him to respond. The CM looks in, and I get the impression he saw something bad...that is the point where they make the guest stop taping. If it's what it looked like, I imagine that CM is going to be haunted by the sight for a long, long time. It gives me chills just to think about it.

Bright Scouter · Post by **Bright Scouter** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:08 pm

And I also am curious what sensors could they have installed this quickly? Is it something on the rails that will tell them the position of the rails? Something in monorail control? Surely it can't be anything automated. I know how long it can take to change code, let alone test it.

Belgarion42 · Post by **Belgarion42** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:25 pm

My prayers go out to Austin's family as well, and for the driver of Pink. What a horrible memory he will have to live with, regardless of who/what was at fault.

What a terrible tragedy.

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:26 pm

mapo wrote:Zazu, could you PM me memorial service information?

I'm not certain I will be told about the memorial service first, or even at all, especially considering I'm home on medical leave.

Please, whoever hears of a public memorial service first, post it here for all of us.

Including those of us who may only be able to attend in spirit.

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