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The Louisville Zoo’s train accident
On June 1, 2009, the Louisville Zoo’s train derailed and landed on its side. This sent 22 people to the hospital. After the accident, many wondered what caused the train to derail. According to a report by WDRB, there were three contributing factors that led to the accident. They were excessive speed as the train went through the downhill curve, the poor mechanical condition of the train and inadequate operator training. Since the accident, the zoo spent $1 million making sure the train has all the safety features necessary to protect its passengers. The zoo purchased a new train and inspected every inch of the mile and a quarter long track. The track is checked every day before the train starts as well.
Unpredictable accidents
Hopefully, with all of the new safety precautions, another accident won’t happen. However, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. One of the tricky things about an accident is you don’t know when one will happen. In events like the Louisville Zoo train ride, we are putting our safety in the hands of the driver of the train. We are also trusting that the facility is up-to-date on their safety equipment and procedures. In many organizations’ defense, they do have all the proper safety measures. With that in mind, we don’t need to be paranoid about every ride or trip we take. We simply need to be aware of our surroundings and have fun.
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Let’s put safety first but still enjoy ourselves. I personally want to ride the train at the Louisville Zoo again. I’m confident that the train is safe. The Louisville Zoo and the city of Louisville will see to that. The next time you go to the zoo, make sure to check out all the exhibits and rides. Most importantly, have fun!