|
|
 |
 |
           |
|
|
Giant tree falls at Disneyland, injures 27 - - - - - - - - - - - - By Chelsea J. Carter May 5, 2001 | ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- A giant tree toppled over at Disneyland on Friday, injuring 27 visitors and two workers, a park spokesman said. Eighteen people were taken to hospitals, but the injuries were minor, said Roger Smith, a division chief for the Anaheim Fire Department. Four children were among the injured, he said. "They were all cuts, bruises, scratches, things of that nature ..." spokesman Ray Gomez said after talking to medical officials late Friday. He did not know what caused the tree to fall. The tree fell in Frontierland near the Rivers of America attraction. A food wagon parked in the area partially broke the fall, Gomez said. Park visitor Jason Lowe said the area was closed off after the accident and ambulances and police officers arrived. "It just crashed," said Valeri Pineda, 18, one of a group of cheerleaders from Clinton High School in El Paso, Texas, who were nearby in line at the Golden Horseshoe Review. "At first we thought it was a ride because we heard people screaming," said Audrey Heredia, 18, also a cheerleader. The tree was believed to have been in the park since it opened and was probably more than 40 years old. The park spokesman said weather may have been a factor. "We had very high winds here yesterday. We certainly had some cleaning to do today but there was no indication there was a problem," Gomez said. The accident is the latest in a series of mishaps that have brought scrutiny to the park. Three people were injured on rides from September to January, and a 6-year-old girl had part of her left finger pulled off when it caught in a toy rifle in January. The toy guns since have been removed. In 1998, a Washington state tourist was killed and his wife and an employee were seriously injured when a cleat used to moor the Columbia sailing ship ride ripped loose.
DEATH AT DISNEYLAND - (Written by Grant at Disneyland, 1998) Well c'mon now baby along with me it's an invitation to a happy dream we'll swing from vines like Doctor Jones and stumble through a pirate's bones But there's a lot of water in this cheery place and whirlpools follow in the Columbia's wake shots have been fired in the parking lot, well it's all just part of Walt's Masonic plot Death! Death At Disneyland (chorus) The People Mover's crushed the skull of many a guest and Space Mountain gives aways free heart attacks it's a Tragic Kingdom with Fatal Attractions and Disney always dodges any legal action But let's face you had a really great day, up until the point where you wound up dead "let's drop acid on It's A Small World" Ok, but don't blame me about your spinal chord Go! chorus Well I'm just waiting standing here, waiting in line to die on the Materhorn and the Rocket Rod waiting in line to die, to die. Oh well c'mon now baby along with me it's an invitation to a happy dream we'll slide down a mountain in a hollow log, and wind up dead in a murky bog But I love this place and all it gives, a magical place full of mysteries and if you don't want to die meet me at my favourite stop that's the Enchanted Tiki Hut chorus Death in Adventureland Death in Frontierland Death in Tomorrowland Death in Disneyland |