A tragic incident occurred at Disneyland Resort in California as a visitor lost her life while riding one of the park’s popular attractions. In 1984, Dolly Regene Young, 47, was fatally injured when she was ejected from the Matterhorn Bobsled ride and struck by an oncoming cart.
The accident happened in the late afternoon, around 3:30 pm, when Young’s unfastened seatbelt caused her sudden expulsion from the ride. She was seated at the back of the cart, making it challenging for her friends to realize she had been ejected.
Investigators are unsure if the seatbelt was intentionally undone or if there was a malfunction. Such fatal incidents are extremely rare in the park’s long history, with no similar tragedies occurring for decades.
Following the accident, the ride was stopped within 30 seconds to prevent further harm and provide immediate assistance to Young. Disneyland’s spokesperson, Bob Roth, stated that Young’s friends were unaware of her fall until the ride concluded. Fortunately, no one in the other cart that collided with Young was harmed.
The Matterhorn ride was promptly closed after the incident but reopened the next day. The ride accommodated eight passengers secured in one line across two carriages, traveling along a track circling a snow-covered mountain.
The cart that hit Young was estimated to be moving at 20 mph, causing her immediate death. Unfortunately, this was not the first fatality on this ride, as a 15-year-old boy lost his life in a similar incident in 1964.
Mark Maples, another victim, disappeared during a ride on the Matterhorn. Witnesses reported that he possibly unfastened his seatbelt, leading to his fall from the ride and subsequent fatal injuries.
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