A Disney employee who fell from a ride platform over the weekend died Thursday evening, according to Disney officials. The woman was identified by Orange County Sheriff's Office as Karen Price, 63. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.
"Our sympathies are with the family tonight," said Jacquee Polak, Disney spokeswoman. "We offer them our support during this difficult time."
Price was a ride attendant on the Primeval Whirl, a roller coaster type ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom. She stepped into a restricted area on a platform and was hit by a moving car.
She fell and hit her head, Polak said.
Earlier in the day, several local news outlets reported that the woman had died, though that information was erroneous.
The Occupational Safety and Heath Administration was at Disney today to investigate the incident, Polak said.
The sheriff's office is also investigating, but did not respond to the initial incident because it was not a criminal act, spokesman Jim Solomons said. The sheriff's office was involved once Price's condition became "grave" on Wednesday, Solomons said.
The last Disney employee to die while working was in February 2004 when Javier Cruz, 28, was run over while playing Pluto during a parade.
