Ouch....

Freak · Post by **Freak** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 8:28 pm

I've also heard that the cab has no brake fins or rollback dogs. In
essence, the cab is unidentifiable by the sensors (or so I've heard). Is
this true? Because that might be why the coaster didn't try and e-stop
itself...and led to all of this.

Space Man K7 · Post by **Space Man K7** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 12:14 am

So It's now oh the 14th of Sept and not much has changed. I've got
several friends guarding the wall around the Thunder Entrance. I've
pulled all my old training info from Thunder and am trying to put together
my own theory of what happened. Using what I know of the attraction
and what I've been told. But I do know that as soon as this happened,
The 2 other operating Mountains (Tokyo and Paris) closed for a day to
test and inspect. Keeping in mind that BTM at WDW is down for rehab.

BirdMom · Post by **BirdMom** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 8:03 pm

I don't know if this can be verified by anyone in the area who is currently
employed, but I heard from a reliable source that Thunder is still
technically considered a crime scene, secured by Anaheim P.D. After
Anaheim P.D. finishes up, they're supposed to be turning the site over to
Cal OSHA. I've also heard that former R.O.'s and maintenance people
are going to be testifying to the grand jury and that the county is
considering subpoenaing Pressler. According to this source, park
management is in deep sh** for allowing maintenance budget cut backs.

Space Man K7 · Post by **Space Man K7** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:32 pm

In my previous post... there was a typo... it's TALKED to... not what ever
I put, my appologies. To answer BirdMom, I believe that it is still a crime
scene... there is police tape across the exit. You can see it from the
Wheelhouse on the twain. "Freak": you are right, there are no fins or anti
roll backs on the loco, making it just a show piece. I've heard that when
Thunder reopens... there's a good chance that the Loco won't be there.

SirWillow · Post by **SirWillow** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 1:20 pm

Birdmom, it may very well still be considered a "crime scene
investigation", but that's going to be as far as it goes at this point. They,
as well as DOSH, have to finish their investigations and determine causes
before they can even attempt to put together a case outlining anything
that they could present to a grand jury. And until they know what they
would even be presenting, or what charges they could even potentially
file, there isn't anything to present to a grand jury. And to be entirely
honest, I really doubt that there ever will be, since proving anything
criminal would be extremely difficult if not impossible. Civil charges very
possibly, but I really doubt it'll ever go criminal Sounds to me like your
source is jumping way ahead of themselves and hoping for something
that's not going to happen.

Additionally, if it was in the process of going to a grand jury, then the
investigation would have been completed, and it would have been
handed off to the DA, who would then have to proceed from there,
including filings stating that there was a potential case which anyone
could look up.

BirdMom · Post by **BirdMom** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 5:01 pm

My source is a ride designer who used to work at WED who has a family member still employed by the evil empire...

SirWillow · Post by **SirWillow** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:24 pm

OC Register has a new article out which gives a lot more details about
what happened. You'll find the full article here:

http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/a ... h=10&day=3

In short, they heard some sort of noise on the wheel assembly of the
locomotive car when it came into the station, but decided to remove it
from service after one more go around. Unfortunately, it didn't make it
back around. The rear assembly, or something related to it,
disassembled so violently that it sent the back of the loco airborne,
actually hitting the top of the tunnel, then coming down again on top of
the one passenger who was killed. He was sitting alone in the front row
according to the article.

Also, birdmom, your friend was incorrect on at least one thing. To quote
from the article:

Anaheim police found no evidence of any criminal activity but did not
come to any conclusion about the cause of the crash.

So if they didn't find anything they thought was criminal, there certainly
isn't anything for a DA to take to a grand jury. I think that might have
been wishful thinking from a possibly disgruntled ex-CM.

cheshire · Post by **cheshire** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 1:33 am

I just finished reading the report (and it is long)

It is so
strange to see the names of people that I work with and that are my
friends on a police incident report. I was told that it looked like a war
scene at the accident site but reading the report gives a much more
detailed image. I really don't blame the cast members that have said
they never want to go back to that ride....I don't know if I could after
seeing all that. It's just a very sad thing all around....for cast and
guests

Dante101 · Post by **Dante101** » Sun Nov 09, 2003 10:50 pm

Another big article in the LA Times today.

SRT_GB · Post by **SRT_GB** » Sun Nov 09, 2003 11:12 pm

Dante101 wrote:Another big article in the LA Times today.

I read it....very interesting, esp for a stores cm who knows almost nothing about what goes on in attractions.

Stupid Guest Tricks

Ouch....

Thunder Mountain