Rebecca Miller was prepared for killer sharks, King Kong and other fictional horrors when she took a backlot tour of Universal Studios Hollywood with her family on Saturday night, but what she didn’t expect was… What happened was that real-life drama intervened.
Authorities said Miller, her husband and two children were on one of the last streetcars operating through the park that night and were in the back of a four-car streetcar when it crashed, killing 15 people. He was injured and taken to the hospital, but his injuries were not said to be life-threatening. The tram her family was riding had passed the King Kong and Tyrannosaurus attractions and had just arrived at the famous movie vehicle exhibit when it suddenly stopped at nearly 8:30 p.m.
“We were like, ‘Okay, they might have a technical issue,'” said Miller, a Victorville resident who was riding in the front car of the streetcar with park staff. 39) looks back. “And as it went on, we were like, this is a little weird. Then their radio started getting messages and we noticed that their attitude had completely changed.”
The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the scene after receiving an emergency call from the park just after 9 p.m.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Maria Abal said Saturday night that the last car on Miller’s streetcar struck the rails as it descended a hill near a parking lot. “There was some problem with the brakes. I don’t know exactly yet,” he said.
Abal said more than 100 people can ride on the park’s trams, but it was unclear how many were on board at the time of the incident. The collision caused several passengers to fall from their cars, according to the sheriff’s office, which is responsible for security at the park.
Universal Studios said Sunday that it was told by authorities that the injuries were minor and that it was working with the California Highway Patrol and other agencies to investigate the crash. It said “safety remains our top priority” and that it has resumed tours with “modified routes” and enhanced “operational and safety protocols.”
The Highway Patrol did not provide an update Sunday.
Miller’s family was at the park for the event, which brings together thousands of Girl Scouts from around the region, and their 8-year-old daughter, Alana, was among the top cookie sellers at the Girl Scouts fundraiser. He said that this included him.
She said the family remained trapped on the tram until about 10:15 p.m., at a park that was open for a Girl Scout event.
Passengers on the early morning tram that night said the vehicle was stopped around 8 p.m. due to smoke and a foul odor apparently emanating from the brake pads. Passengers were transferred to another streetcar, according to an email sent to the Times.
The Universal Studios Tram Tour, also known as the World Famous Studio Tour, is the theme park’s signature attraction. The park will celebrate the ride’s 60th anniversary starting next week.
This tour takes you behind the scenes on the sets of movies like Jaws and Jordan Peele’s Nope, and looks back on the past 50 years of Universal Pictures.
