Disneyland Employee Dies in Theme Park Accident

A Disneyland employee has died after falling from a moving golf cart in the backstage area of the California theme park, authorities said.

Bonnye Lear, 60, of Fullerton, died on Friday, The Orange County Register reported, citing a spokesperson for the Orange County Coroner’s Office.

Authorities had responded to the Disneyland Resort on Wednesday morning after a woman had fallen from a moving golf cart and struck her head, Anaheim police Sergeant Jon McClintock told the newspaper.

She was transported to hospital in a serious condition and later died from her injuries, McClintock said.

Anaheim police are investigating the collision, the Register reported.

Lear was a passenger in the cart, according to TMZ. The outlet reported that the driver of the cart was not injured and neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected to be a factor.

Lear had been employed at the Disneyland Resort for 24 years and worked in membership services at Club 33, an exclusive dining club at Disneyland.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Bonnye, and offer our sincere condolences to everyone who cared for her,” Ken Potrock, president of the Disneyland Resort, said in a statement to the Register.

“At this time, we are focused on supporting her family and our cast members through this tragic event and making sure they have the resources they need.”

Newsweek has contacted the Anaheim Police Department and Disneyland Resort for further comment via email.

Rae Delgado, a Disney California Adventure attractions cast member, wrote on Facebook that Lear had suffered a fractured skull and brain swelling from the accident. The post was not visible early Sunday morning. Delgado could not immediately be contacted for comment.

“Bonnye was traveling on a rear-facing seat of a golf cart along with three passengers behind Critter Country,” Delgado wrote in a post on Facebook, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“The driver of the vehicle was driving at least 20 mph on the route. The golf cart came in contact with a bump/dip in the road which caused Bonnye to react immediately. As she went to grab the handrail, it gave way and sent her out of the vehicle.”

Disney theme parks vlogger Just Ask Danny, who used to work with Lear at Disneyland, paid tribute, to his former colleague. “She was quite literally the kindest human who worked at the Disneyland Resort,” he wrote on Twitter. “This is truly very sad for her family and fellow cast at the club.”