A tragic incident occurred at Disneyland Resort in California, resulting in the death of a visitor on one of the park’s popular rides. Dolly Regene Young, 47, was decapitated in 1984 after being ejected from the Matterhorn Bobsled ride and struck by an oncoming cart.
The accident took place in the late afternoon around 3:30 pm when Young’s unfastened seatbelt caused her to be thrown from the ride. Her friends seated in front of her were unaware of her sudden absence due to the swift nature of her ejection from the cart.
Authorities are still investigating whether the seatbelt was intentionally undone or if there was a mechanical malfunction. Fatal incidents like this are extremely rare in the history of the park, with no similar tragic deaths reported for decades.
Following the accident, the ride was quickly stopped to prevent further injuries and provide immediate assistance to Young. Disneyland spokesperson Bob Roth mentioned that Young’s friends only realized she had fallen out after the ride ended, and fortunately, no one else on the ride was harmed when the cart struck her.
The Matterhorn ride was temporarily closed after the incident but reopened the next day. The ride accommodated eight passengers secured in seats across two carriages as they navigated a track around a snow-covered mountain.
The cart that hit Young was traveling at approximately 20 mph, resulting in 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 shortly after the ride’s launch.
Another incident involved Mark Maples, who disappeared while riding the Matterhorn with friends. It was reported that he possibly unfastened his seatbelt, leading to a fatal fall beside the tracks during the ride.
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