Fla. Boy Killed in Disney Bus Crash Was Riding Bike
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. --
A 9-year-old boy was hit and killed by a bus at Walt Disney World's Fort Wilderness Resort Thursday afternoon.
The victim was identified as Chase Brubaker, of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Police said the crash happened as he was riding his bike with an 11-year-old girl on Big Pine Drive at about 1:35 p.m.
Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Kim Montes said both of the children were on a sidewalk along the roadway. A preliminary investigation showed that the boy left the sidewalk and entered the roadway, Montes said.
"The little boy ... left the sidewalk and went into the southbound lanes of Big Pine Drive, struck the side of the bus and then was subsequently pulled underneath the bus and run over by the bus," Montes said.
Brubaker was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was wearing a helmet.
The girl was not hurt, though officials said she was very shaken up.
Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger extended the park's sympathy to the boy's family.
"We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to the boy's family and loved ones for their loss," she said. "We are currently providing the necessary resources and care to help the family with the situation."
Authorities investigate after a boy is killed by a Disney bus at Fort Wilderness.
The bus driver was identified as 56-year-old David Russel Rich, of Montverde, Fla.
Troopers said it doesn't appear that Rich did anything wrong. He has been a Disney employee for more than 30 years. He was making stops around the two-mile Fort Wilderness loop, picking up and dropping off guests around the campground when the crash happened.
Officials said it could take up to two months to determine if the bus driver was at fault in any way. Disney said they don't know right now if Rich will be put on paid leave or be allowed to get back behind the wheel of a bus.
Crash Follows Series Of Disney Incidents
Thursday's incident came on the heels of some other high-profile crashes at Disney.
About two weeks ago, a Disney bus driver slammed into the back of a parked bus near the tolls at Epcot. Eight people, including the bus driver, were injured and taken to local hospitals.
The driver, Jean Valentin, was ticketed by the Florida Highway Patrol for careless driving.
Less than a year ago, Disney had another serious crash. Two buses collided near the Contemporary Resort last July.
A dozen people went to hospitals and suffered minor injuries. The driver was ticketed for careless driving.
Perhaps the most memorable and tragic crash of recent memory at Disney is the monorail crash that also happened in July of last year.
Austin Wuennenberg, a 21-year-old monorail pilot, was killed when a monorail train crashed head-on into the vehicle that he was in.
OSHA ruled the crash was preventable and fined Disney $7,000.
Wuennenberg's mother is suing Disney, claiming negligence. Disney denies any fault in the crash.
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