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Accidents Involving Injury at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Official U.S. federal and state data on theme park accidents is almost nonexistent. That's why Theme Park Insider users are creating this visitor-maintained database of theme park accidents--to give public at least some information about attraction safety records.

Do you know of, or have been part of, an accident involving injury at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? Report it to Theme Park Insider.

(If you are looking for general information about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, please visit Theme Park Insider's reader reviews for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.)

Verified Incidents

(Even though these incidents have been verified, individual reports might contain the opinion of the persons submitting them.)

12/11/2004 - Submitted by Name Withheld on 12/14/2004

I am female and 41 years old. I had just exited the train and took two steps on the wood flooring which was still wet from the cleaning crews and slipped and fell to the ground. I could not move due to pain in my knee. I was transported to first aid via a wheelchair for an ice pack. I still have swelling and bruising on my knee and hip.

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    • Follow-up:
    Let this be a lesson that to check the floor for slippery surfaces to aviod injury and going to First Aid while you could be having fun riding rides! -- Submitted by mikokat on 9/29/2005

    My family had a fast-pass for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad that afternoon on 12/11/04, presumably when the accident happened, and Big Thunder was shut down for over an hour. No explanation was given. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 12/15/2004

    7/8/2004 - Submitted by HAPIMS on 7/8/2004
    Two trains on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad collided in the loading area at 5:05 p.m. Anaheim police reported that a 10-year-old boy, a 44-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were transported by private ambulance to a local area hospital for undisclosed injuries.

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    • Follow-up:
    Verified by SoCal source. Link to a Reuters Report included. [For more information about this incident, visit http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=5625407] -- Submitted by joeslash on 7/8/2004

    9/5/2003 - Submitted by HAPIMS on 9/5/2003
    One man was killed and at least 10 others injured after an accident at Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Authorities set up a triage area near the ride, located in the Frontierland section of the park. One person was injured with facial lacerations. Other injuries appear to be minor.

  • For more information about this incident, visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=1296

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    • Follow-up:
    A locomotive broke loose on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster Friday, killing a man and injuring 10 other people, officials said. TV helicopters showed a triage unit set up near the ride and one person being taken on a stretcher to an ambulance. The roller coaster takes amusement park visitors on a twisting, turning ride aboard what is supposed to be a runaway train in the Old West. Riders zoom through mineshafts and caverns, past falling rocks and tumbling waterfalls. The ride opened in 1979, making it one of newer roller coasters at Disneyland. It is computer-operated, said Joe Aguirre, a park spokesman. [For more information about this incident, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31858-2003Sep5.html] -- Submitted by marna on 9/5/2003

    someone asked who actually checks the attractions for maintenance problems, well i know it's the case at Disney World Space Mtn (so i'll assume the same for Disneyland) that disney has a who crew of people who come in after the park is closed to work overnight on inspecting the trains, the track, and sometimes cycling the trains (taking one off and putting a newer one on the track). These people are pretty well trained but you never really know when something could happen even if inspections went fine, which i'm sure they did. if they thought something was wrong they just wouldn't use that train. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 9/6/2003

    cnn is reporting 11 injured. last friday while waiting in line we saw a woman being attended to by paramedics. this probably sounds fishy, but while we were riding you could actually feel extreme movement of the cars on the track. this was the firs time i had ridden the ride in lots of years. may have been nothing, but now this. p.s. the response to the woman looked like goofy and crew with a steth and bp cuff. scary. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 9/5/2003

    3/10/1998 - Submitted by kfackler on 5/20/2001
    5-year-old David Fackler's foot was crushed between the side of the car he was riding in and the loading platform as the car approached the unloading point. The accident resulted in the amputation of David's toes and surgical reconstruction of the remaining foot.

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    • Unverified Reports

    4/18/2004 - Submitted by thatmandychick on 5/3/2004
    My husband and I were going to ride this ride when they shut it down. We saw medics and many supervisor types with walkie talkies. Apparently a woman was injured on this ride at approximately 9-10pm. Bystanders were saying a woman was hit. I have looked for information as to what happened but have not been able to find anything. Maybe you have heard of something?

  • This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

    • Follow-up:
    many reports of this have been seen across the internet but i have ridden it many a time and have had no problems with it except for the fact that a bug flew up my moms nose while she was riding it. -- Submitted by coasterloverx13 on 4/25/2008

    you should have seen what went up me on that ride. NOt just up my nose... -- Submitted by poopy on 10/11/2008

    8/7/1993 - Submitted by SuziQuzi on 9/8/2003
    I was riding on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and it was just going into a tunnel when the train came to a sudden stop. I sustained 3 herniated discs in my neck. I was treated very poorly by all of Disneylands representatives and basically got screwed by them and my attorney. It ruined my life and I hope they finally close this ride. I used to love Disneyland and after having them treat me like they did, park outside of my house everyday and call me and never pay one medical bill, I can safely say that it is not the happiest place on earth.

  • This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.


    • If you have additional information that can confirm, clarify or refute any of these reports, please e-mail the editor! (Please don't forget to include the attraction's name in your message.)

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