Disneyland Visitor Dies After Accident at Ship

A Disneyland visitor hit in the face by a piece of metal torn from a tall ship on Christmas Eve died Saturday, becoming the first fatality in a ride-related accident at the park since 1984.

Luan Phi Dawson, 33, of Duvall, Wash., was taken off his respirator at UCI Medical Center about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, said Cullen Ellingburgh, supervising deputy at the Orange County coroner’s office. Doctors declared him brain dead at 10:15 a.m., which will be entered as the official time of death, but waited for family members before disconnecting life support, Ellingburgh said.

Dawson’s wife, Lieu Thuy Vuong, 43, who was also critically injured in the accident, remained hospitalized, although her condition was upgraded from critical to fair on Saturday, said Kim Pine, a hospital spokeswoman.

A third accident victim, Disneyland employee Christine Carpenter of Anaheim, remained in stable condition at Western Medical Center-Anaheim with serious leg and foot injuries.

Dawson became the ninth person--including visitors and employees--to be fatally injured at Disneyland since it opened in 1955, according to a tally not confirmed by the park.

Disney officials expressed their sorrow and pledged to cooperate with state investigators who have begun a probe of the accident.

The Columbia Sailing Ship, the ride where the accident occurred, has been closed until investigations--including one by the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health--are complete, Disney officials said.

“We at Disneyland are deeply saddened by this tragic event,” said Paul Pressler, president of Walt Disney Attractions, in a written statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Mr. Dawson, Ms. Vuong and Ms. Carpenter. We are doing everything possible to assist and care for these families during their time of need.”

Pressler said the company is conducting its own investigation “to prevent a similar accident from occurring again.”

“We’re checking the Columbia’s mechanical and structural components from top to bottom,” he said.

Disney officials would not comment Saturday on allegations from some former workers that staffing cuts and inadequate training and maintenance might have played a role in the accident. “We’re not going to talk about that,” said Disney spokesman Ray Gomez. “We continue to feel very badly about the accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

The accident occurred about 10:40 a.m. Thursday as throngs of visitors packed the park. At the time, the Columbia, an 84-foot, 1950s-vintage tall ship replica, approached the dock after a routine voyage through the Rivers of America attraction. The ship runs on an underwater track.

Witnesses said a rope used to secure the ship as it was docking tore loose a metal cleat. The metal fixture flew through the air, striking the two tourists and entangling employee Carpenter at dockside.

On Friday, Disney employees at the ride called unfounded the allegations made by other employees that disrepair or dry rot may have contributed to the accident.

Maintenance at the park has drawn criticism in the past few years from some frequent park visitors and employees. But Disneyland officials say the park is well maintained.

Cal/OSHA will investigate the accident because an employee was hurt, but no state or county agency oversees the safety of rides at theme parks, according to state and local officials.

Of the millions of people who visit Disneyland each year, there have been eight other attraction-related deaths since the park opened in 1955, according to the critical 1994 book titled “Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look At Disneyland” by David Koenig.

The book cites two deaths on the Matterhorn, in 1964 and 1984; two on the PeopleMover, in 1967 and 1980; one on the Monorail track in 1966; and one on the America Sings rotating stage in 1974. Two drownings occurred in Rivers of America, in 1973 and 1983, according to the book. Some of those victims were employees; most others were described as occurring when visitors flouted park safety rules.

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Times staff writer Phil Willon and correspondent Harrison Sheppard contributed to this report.