Man Exits Space Mountain While Ride Is In Motion

ANAHEIM, CA —Ladies and gentlemen, keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle and remember that there is a reason those lap restraints are in place on Disneyland rides. On Tuesday, a 20-year-old guest, whose name was not released, somehow exited the famous Space Mountain roller coaster while it was in motion, Patch has learned.

The high-speed space-themed ride, which rockets guests through the dark on the roller coaster, was still closed Thursday while state officials investigated how the rider was able to escape while it was in motion. He was not injured and went to the Disneyland park first aid station before being taken to the hospital as a precaution.

According to Anaheim Police Sgt. Daron Wyatt, the guest "maneuvered himself around the safety mechanism" and didn't "fall out." The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health was notified immediately following, Disneyland officials said.

Luke Brown, a spokesman for Cal/OSHA, the state agency that is investigating the circumstances said that "Disney is fully cooperating with Cal/OSHA and we're working with Disney to determine what changes are needed going forward."

Disney officials said they hope to "get the attraction up and running shortly."

Such incidents are "extremely rare," Jim Seay, past chairman of the ASTM International Amusement Ride Safety Standards Committee said in an interview with the Orange County Register.

"Everybody is a contributor to the safety of the ride," Seay said in a phone interview with OCR. "The actions of the individual are an important part of the ride."

Ashley Ludwig, Patch editor Photo