(USNewsMag.com) – Fifteen people were injured on April 20th after a tram that is used for the World-Famous Studio Tour crashed into a railing at Universal Studios Hollywood near Los Angeles, California.
In a post on social media, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said it responded to the crash just after 9 p.m. on April 20th.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the last car of the tram crashed into the metal guardrail while negotiating a turn near the props for the “Jurassic Park” movie, “causing it to tilt and eject multiple passengers.” The statement noted that police believe that “alcohol and drugs” did not play a role in the crash.
Fifteen people were transported with minor injuries to a local hospital, according to the fire department. An April 21st statement from the highway patrol noted that some of the passengers suffered moderate injuries.
In an April 21st statement, Universal Studios Hollywood said tours using a modified route resumed. The statement said that Universal Studios Hollywood is reviewing the incident, adding that “safety remains a top priority.”
In 2022, Universal Studios began a renovation project that included converting the diesel-hydraulic-powered trams to run on electricity. It is unclear if the tram that struck the guard rail was an older diesel-powered tram or a newer electric one.
Universal Studios Hollywood operates the multi-car trams as part of its one-hour long, World-Famous Studio Tour, which offers guests a view from behind the scenes of the Universal Studios lot where movies such as “Back to the Future,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “Jaws” were filmed. Starting April 26th, Universal Studios Hollywood will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the tours, which began in 1964.
This is not the first time an accident has occurred with the tram at Universal Studios Hollywood. An employee, Paul Rebalde, 20, was run over and killed by the tram during a special Halloween “Fright Nights” show in 1986.
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