News: New lawsuit in Thunder Mountain accident

Posted at 3:49 PM EST (2049 GMT)

Dec. 1st, 2004 -- On Nov. 18, Burbank resident Christina Alvarado sued the Walt Disney Co. over a crash last September on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster. The incident left one person dead and ten injured, including Alvarado, who suffered back injuries as a result.

This is the second suit brought against Disney concerning the crash; the first came in September when the family of Marcelo Torres, who was killed in the crash, sued Disney for wrongful death. The suit brought by Alvarado alleges defective ride design, negligence, and unsafe operating procedures.

It is unknown how much money Alvarado is seeking. When state workers inspected Thunder Mountain they discovered failure to perform proper maintenance. Disney denies the negligence is a sign of a broader problem.

See The Los Angeles Times for more. Free registration is required.