One person dead in a crash involving a Magical Express Bus

[Daisy'sMom]

I just heard on Iocal news that an ME bus and a car were involved in an accident on Epcot Drive. One person has died. Such sadness. May God ease the pain that this has caused.

[Pop Centurion]

BAY LAKE --

One person is dead after a crash on Walt Disney World property involving a Disney's Magical Express bus and another car Friday near Epcot.

The crash happened just before 4 p.m. on Epcot Center Drive, near Overpass Road. Epcot Center Drive is completely blocked in that area.

One person, who was in the car, was pronounced dead at Celebration Hospital, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Reedy Creek fire officials said two other people on the bus, including a child, were also transported as a non-emergency precaution.

Disney officials confirmed the crash, saying the Magical Express is a Mears Transportation-owned and operated bus service that runs between Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World.

One woman on the bus said on Twitter that her children were traumatized by the crash.

The woman, who asked not to be identified, said they were just arriving at Disney World when the crash happened. She said Mears told passengers they were waiting for clearance from FHP to move them off the bus.

Not sure if the link is allowed but for updates go to http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news...injuries_.html

[faline]

How awful!

[faline]

A tragedy - for sure.

[Ian]

I have to say ... the roads in and around WDW are very, very hazardous. The signage just isn't that great and people are constantly in the wrong lane, switching at the last minute, weaving in and out of cars, and driving too fast.

I'm always nervous when I drive down there and I'm not one to ever be nervous about anything.

A tragedy to be sure, though. To be headed to your happy place and have this happen ... very, very sad.

[MNNHFLTX]

Aw, how sad.

I have to say ... the roads in and around WDW are very, very hazardous. The signage just isn't that great and people are constantly in the wrong lane, switching at the last minute, weaving in and out of cars, and driving too fast.

I agree. Driving at Disney World doesn't bother me except for the unpredictability of the other drivers. You never know what they're going to do.

I have to admit something--when I read about the woman that tweeted that her children were traumatized by the accident, a tiny little cynical part of me saw a lawsuit being set up. Of course the children were traumatized, I would be traumatized as an adult, but I can't help being suspicious of these things.

[MNNHFLTX]

Wow, just read the article and saw that the poor passengers on the bus waited for two hours before being allowed to get on another bus and leave the scene. That's terrible. :\

[VWL Mom]

Very sad, my heart goes out to the family of the driver that lost their life.

I have to admit something--when I read about the woman that tweeted that her children were traumatized by the accident, a tiny little cynical part of me saw a lawsuit being set up. Of course the children were traumatized, I would be traumatized as an adult, but I can't help being suspicious of these things.

Absolutely, that was the first thing I said to my kids.

[Piglet822]

They were probably held that long because there was a fatality.
Luckily we have cameras on our buses, including DME and DCL.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

[Dulcee]

Very sad, my heart goes out to the family of the driver that lost their life.



Absolutely, that was the first thing I said to my kids.

Ditto. I would bet that someone (a very uninjured someone) will take this tragedy and try to capitalize on it.

[Opus X]

Condolenses..to all involved that were injured.
knock on wood....We have never had any close calls while driving. Always...went smoothly.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

Oh no! What a horrible thing to happen anywhere, but especially at Disney.

Driving is always a bit crazy at Disney, a bunch of people who have little to no clue where they are going.

Thoughts and prayers to everyone involved.

[Aurora]

From the news report: "Investigators said witnesses told they [sic] the woman’s car stopped in the travel lane and the bus wasn’t able to stop in time."

Total speculation on my part, but if this turns out to be true, and guessing from the photo attached to the story, the woman may have become confused and stopped or slowed down just after the crest of a hill. It also looks like it had just rained.

Just tragic for all involved. My heart goes out to all the victims.

[Renfairwedding]

They need to improve the signage. How very sad for all involved.

[Christine]

This is such an example of driving anywhere in this area. I have never been so scared to drive as I am here. When you have such a huge popilation of folks from all over the PLANET driving in a small area, often for the first time, it is scary!
I have seen tourists (out of state licenses so I knew that) drive backwards on an exit ramp on I-4 because they didn't mean to take that exit!
I have seen folks stop in the traffic lane like this looking at their GPS and causing folks to slam on brakes & swerve.
Could the signage be better? Yes. But it's also just a high risk in this area (wdw and te surrounding area).

This is a tragedy indeed. Horrible. And I'm grateful there weren't more fatalities or injuries than there were. My heartfelt condolences to those involved.

And bless the ME & WDW bus drivers that deal with this traffic daily and so such a good job keeping guests safe.
Should anyone dishonestly decide to cash in on this horrible event - may God have mercy on their soul.

[Mrs Bus Driver]

So sorry for the family of the person who died.
My sympathies for the bus driver, having been a bus driver I can tell you that it doesn't matter if the accident wasn't their fault they will still be going over it in their mind wondering if there was anything they could have done to avoid it. I hope this isn't to hard on them.
As for lawsuits I find it silly to worry about it, people do what they do. Both Mears and Disney have lawyers to take care of things like this and just because someone mentions that their kids are traumatized doesn't mean they are going to sue. I know I'd be pretty traumatized after someone dies and I have to stay on the very bus for 2 hours, I might tell a few people to.

[hauntedmansiongirl]

Thoughts and prayers to the family of the deceased and for the bus driver and bus passengers.

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

So sad

[dg_ndd143]

I agree that it is a tragedy for everyone involved and that driving in the area is hazardous and tregerous. And yes, the signs can be improved on. But that still doesn't excuse you from using common sense. You don't stop in the middle of the road on a busy road. People need to be more responsible and accountable for their actions.

[Aurora]

New information: The woman was a Disney Cast Member. More from the Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,5038252.story

Of particular interest: "Investigators interviewed passengers on the bus and drivers who witnessed the crash and will examine the Buick to see whether there was a mechanical problem that caused the driver to stop, Montes said. They'll also try to determine how fast the bus was going.

"There's a crest in the road near where the accident happened, and it's possible that the bus driver may not have seen the car until the last moment, she said."