[Park Hopper]

An Orlando-area man has died from complications after he fell 4 feet while boarding Universal's new Mummy thrill ride. Here's the story:

By Sean Mussenden
Sentinel Staff Writer

September 23, 2004

It was to have been Jose Valadez's one day of fun.

After he spent the better part of a year indoors -- visiting doctors, lining up referrals and filling out forms, all in hopes of getting on a waiting list for a liver transplant -- his wife decided he need a day in the sun at Universal Studios.

She pushed him from ride to ride in a rented wheelchair. When they arrived at the Revenge of the Mummy, the park's newest indoor thrill coaster, she waited outside with the chair.

He walked in.

"I waited and waited and waited for him," Paula Valadez said. "He never came out."

Jose Valadez, 39, of Apopka died Wednesday morning after surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center, a day after falling from the Mummy's loading platform onto the tracks 4 feet below while boarding the ride.

It was the first major accident on the Mummy since it opened in May and the second death at Universal Orlando in a year. Last September, a woman died at the hospital after passing out on the Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure.

The park is conducting its own investigation into Tuesday's accident, park spokesman Tom Schroder said.

Rides at Florida's largest theme parks are not routinely inspected by the state. In 2001, those companies agreed to voluntarily report injuries that required hospitalization to the state Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection.

Michael Rinehart, lead investigator for the rides bureau, said his agency probably would not conduct an independent investigation but had not made a final decision.

Schroder said the ride did not malfunction. The accident occurred, he said, as Valadez started to board in the front row.

The boarding procedure for the Mummy is similar to many major park roller coasters. Guests wait between small barriers, separated from the track area by a swinging 42-inch-high metal and plastic gate. The car arrives, the gate swings out and guests step in.

In the line for the front row, the open gate creates a wall, keeping boarders from falling in front of the car into a 4-foot-deep channel that houses the tracks.

Most of the gate is made up of solid metal bars. But a foot-long part of the gate that sits nearest to the car is made of flexible plastic.

Schroder said it was unclear how Valadez fell. He did not know why the gate designers used flexible plastic.

While it conducts its investigation, Schroder said the park already was taking steps to beef up safety. On Wednesday, it closed off access to the front row of seats. And it posted an extra employee at each of the three loading areas to stand between boarding guests and the track area.

When they got to the Mummy on Tuesday, Paula Valadez said she thought the ride was not wheelchair-accessible, though Universal said it is.

She waited outside with the chair; Jose Valadez walked in.

When he fell, he hit his head on the tracks and complained that his stomach hurt and he could not feel his leg, said Orlando Fire Department Assistant Chief Greg Hoggatt.

Doctors at Orlando Regional Medical Center later told Paula Valadez they had to operate on her husband to remove his spleen. Two years ago, she said, doctors diagnosed her husband with hepatitis C, a liver disease that had sent him in search of a new, healthy organ.

The doctors told her the disease complicated the surgery. He died about 11 a.m. Wednesday, she said.

Paula Valadez said she has no plans to sue Universal.

Money, she said, would not replace her husband, the man who used to sing her the old Kenny Rogers tune "Lady" and draw her cartoon characters on handkerchiefs.

One, featuring Daisy and Donald Duck on a porch swing, reads: "Hold me and don't never let go. I'm all yours."

It is signed simply "Jose."

[trilliumB]

Man, that's heartbreaking. His poor wife.

[chris5568]

Originally Posted by trilliumB

Man, that's heartbreaking. His poor wife.

I agree, it is so sad

[LRTJS]

The pain of loosing part of your life is almost unbearable. My heart goes out to his wife.
I rode the Mummy this past July and my son was in a wheel chair from knee surgery. He regretted riding it after he had because it was the only thing he rode at Universal or MGM that hurt his knee. He did have to get out of the wheelchair to ride.

[dwoodz]

I feel bad for her.

[disneyguy]

WOW, 2 deaths at one park in one year.

[JM0318]

I really feel for the wife... she will forever feel it was her fault, no matter the fact that it wasn't.... ºoºJudy

[Dana]

How very tragic and sad. His poor wife.

[inluvwithdisney]

How sad that is!! We wondered on Tuesday what all the comotion was!! We were there when he fell!! My heart goes out to his family!!

[MrDisneyfan1]

Wow...my prayers for his wife!