More details have been released about the Walt Disney World cast member who was killed Monday morning in an industrial accident. According to Orange County officials, the man was a vehicle technician who somehow became trapped under the cart he was working on.
The man, identified by deputies as Juan Alberto Ojeda, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene of an industrial area near the Pop Century Resort and Waldorf Astoria golf course. Ojeda leaves behind a wife and son.
Witnesses said they were about 20 yards away and saw Ojeda was working on the battery for a Toro motorized utility vehicle then they heard a screeching sound and saw the vehicle drive up onto a curb and into a fence, according to a report.
One witness said that it appeared that Ojeda’s arm was caught on the steering wheel at one point during the incident. The cart climbed about six feet up the fence before it came back down on the ground and landed on top of Ojeda, deputies said.
Two witnesses rushed over to help Ojeda, who was trapped under the motorized vehicle. Deputies said Ojeda asked them to back the cart up off of him, but they worried they would cause further injury to him. Ojeda was unconscious moments later, witnesses said. Deputies are still investigating.
In a statement, Walt Disney World President George A. Kalogridis called Ojeda’s death a tragedy. “All of us at Walt Disney World Resort are deeply saddened today by the loss of one of our cast members. Our thoughts and concerns are with his family, friends, and fellow co-workers. This is a tragic accident, and we are providing resources and care for those impacted and are working closely with the proper authorities to understand how this happened,” Kalogridis said.