Originally Posted By Malin While my heart goes out to the family for there tragic lost, it does seem like the family are trying to pass the blame on to Disney here. Parents not watching or discipling there kids is a serious issue at that Resort, although thats not to say it was the case here. I guess the truth will come out, but I have a suspicion the family is blaming Disney, so it has ground to sue.
Originally Posted By MPierce <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-disney-bus-crash-20100402,0,7714886.story" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com...86.story</a> REDINGTON BEACH -- Barbara Burkett stood among the mangroves where her dead grandson once played, surrounded by the things that he loved. To the left was the backyard pool where 9-year-old Chase Brubaker swam for hours. He liked to climb a swing set anchored in nearby sand. To the right sat the boats he rode, moored steps away at the dock. "He had a wonderful life," Burkett said Friday. "I just can't believe he's gone. I can't believe it." One day after the child was killed in a bicycle accident involving a Walt Disney World bus at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, family and friends gathered at his home near St. Petersburg, struggling to come to come to grips with his sudden death. Family members said they blame Disney for the fatality, which took place about 1:35 p.m. Thursday on Big Pine Drive on Disney property, a two-lane road that served as the campground's main thoroughfare. "They killed my son," mother Kelly Brubaker said. Chase and a friend were pedaling to an arcade when the boy drifted from a sidewalk and struck the right side of a passing bus, near its center, according to a preliminary investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Chase was pulled underneath and run over by the bus's right-rear tire, troopers said. He suffered severe traumatic injuries to his upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene. His friend was uninjured. She was riding slightly ahead of Chase, FHP spokeswoman Kim Montes said. Both were wearing helmets. Boy was on sidewalk, family says However, Chase's family disputes FHP's early findings. Burkett said the friend who was riding with Chase told her they were on the sidewalk during the collision. Burkett did not name the 11-year-old girl. She said the girl lives near the Brubakers in Redington Beach. The girl heard, but did not see, what happened, she told the boy's relatives, Burkett said. "I think a lot of people think the bus struck the little boy," Montes said. "Technically, that's not right. The bus didn't hit the child. The child ran into the side of the bus." Physical evidence and witness statements support troopers' preliminary conclusions, Montes said. She gave no details. "We understand the family is grieving, but it's an ongoing investigation," Montes said. Disney officials said they have no plans to change safety procedures at the campground. They said they are offering counseling to all of those involved. "We constantly review our operations, including safety procedures, and based on the information the Florida Highway Patrol has provided, we continue to believe our transportation system is safe and do not anticipate making any additional changes," spokeswoman Andrea Finger said. Authorities have not determined whether the bus driver, David Rich, saw Chase before the crash.
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer My husband said there was another accident involving a bus this weekend. Did anyone else hear this?
Originally Posted By SFH The news media covers things that happen at WDW that they would not cover elsewhere, or the coverage goes wider than it otherwise would. Throw in all of the annual passholders, the bloggers, the tweeters, and everyone having a camera-phone with them these days... Of course, for the family, it is HUGE news and nothing is more important right now. >>Barbara Burkett stood among the mangroves where her dead grandson once played, surrounded by the things that he loved. To the left was the backyard pool where 9-year-old Chase Brubaker swam for hours. He liked to climb a swing set anchored in nearby sand. To the right sat the boats he rode, moored steps away at the dock. "He had a wonderful life," Burkett said Friday. "I just can't believe he's gone. I can't believe it."<< The first three paragraphs are not news. They are "human interest" material used to stir emotions. >>Family members said they blame Disney for the fatality, which took place about 1:35 p.m. Thursday on Big Pine Drive on Disney property, a two-lane road that served as the campground's main thoroughfare.<< This is the reaction most people are going to have, right or wrong. It is less painful to blame someone else, especially a large corporation, than yourself or the deceased. >>Disney officials said they have no plans to change safety procedures at the campground.<< Disney is not going to get rid of their transportation, so safety changes would likely involve more restrictions on bike riding. So maybe it is good that Disney has no plans to change anything at the campground. Even if Disney is in no way at fault, it is not unlikely that the family will get some financial payment. Regardless of the details, it is sad.
