A tragic incident occurred at Disneyland Resort in California as a visitor lost her life on a popular ride. Dolly Regene Young, 47, was fatally injured in 1984 when she was ejected from the Matterhorn Bobsled ride and struck by an oncoming cart.
The incident took place in the late afternoon around 3:30 pm when Young’s unfastened seatbelt resulted in her sudden expulsion. Her friends seated ahead did not realize she was missing as she was at the rear of the cart, making it hard for them to notice her ejection.
Investigators are unsure if the seatbelt was intentionally undone or if there was a malfunction. Such fatal accidents are extremely rare in the park’s history spanning over 70 years, with no similar incidents occurring for decades.
Following the accident, the ride was promptly stopped within 30 seconds to prevent further harm and provide immediate aid to Young. Disneyland spokesperson Bob Roth mentioned that Young’s friends only became aware of her absence after the ride concluded. Fortunately, no one in the other sled that hit Young was harmed.
Questions arose about how Young was ejected as there were no mechanical issues or breakdowns reported. The Matterhorn ride was temporarily closed after the tragedy but reopened the next day. The attraction accommodated eight passengers secured in a line across two carriages as they traversed a track winding around a snowy mountain.
The cart that struck Young was estimated to be moving at 20 mph, causing her immediate death. Unfortunately, this was not the first fatality on this particular ride, as a 15-year-old boy lost his life in 1964, just five years after the attraction’s launch.
Mark Maples, along with two schoolmates, boarded the ride and took the middle seat before he mysteriously vanished during the descent. Witnesses reported that Maples possibly unfastened his seatbelt, leading to his fatal fall beside the tracks.