City Officially Puts Disneyland Tragedy to Rest

Anaheim’s police chief, in a report Tuesday to City Council, defended his officers and Disneyland over the handling of a Christmas Eve accident that killed a visitor and injured two others.

Council members reviewed the six-page report and refused to criticize police or the park, saying the matter should now be put to rest.

“All of my questions have been answered,” Mayor Tom Daly said. “I support the approach taken by the Police Department, and, as far as I’m concerned, everything has been handled properly.”

Police have come under fire for waiting 4 1/2 hours--including 1 1/2 hours being briefed in a park security office--before arriving at the accident site. By that time, park employees had cleaned up the bloody scene and removed evidence from the area.

Chief Randall Gaston’s report to the council stated that “there has been no discovery of any intent to obstruct or interfere with the investigation” by Disneyland officials “nor to tamper with any items that may have been related to the incident.”

Gaston also wrote that detectives felt it was “more productive and necessary” to be briefed by Disneyland staff and to “interview the park employees and witnesses that were involved in the incident.” Police did not feel impeded or delayed by Disneyland in getting to the scene, he wrote.

The chief, who attended Tuesday’s council meeting, did not make any public comment on his report and the council did not ask him any questions on it.

The report was ordered last week by City Manager James D. Ruth after controversy erupted following the accident on the dock of the Columbia sailing ship, one of the theme park’s tamest rides.

The accident occurred when a dock worker tried to tether the Columbia to the dock while the ship was moving too fast on its docking approach. An 8-pound metal cleat snapped off the boat and struck the heads of a Duvall, Wash., couple, Luan Phi Dawson and Lieu Thuy Vuong.

Dawson, 33, died two days later. Vuong, 43, and park employee Christine Carpenter, 30, who tied the line to the dock, were seriously injured.

Paramedics were called to the scene immediately after the 10:40 a.m. accident, and they called police 26 minutes later. The department sent two officers, who arrived at 11:22 a.m. but spent all their time in a park security office.

Gaston met with Disneyland officials Saturday and told them to leave major injury and crime scenes undisturbed until police can investigate. Gaston said that he and his top commanders told park officials that police must take immediate control of major incidents at Disneyland.

In his report, he said: “The cleaning of the accident scene, however innocent the intent and purpose, influenced the investigation as the scene had to be reconstructed by the investigators. It is best to protect the scene until the investigators conclude their work.”

Gaston wrote that the same policy on procedures will be presented to other major businesses and resorts in the city.

After reviewing the report, council members were satisfied with Gaston’s explanations and recommendations.

“I don’t even know why he investigated,” Councilman Frank Feldhaus said. “There’s nothing there. Accidents are accidents.”

Councilwoman Lucille Kring made a point of praising the city’s paramedics for reacting promptly to the scene and said she is happy that Disneyland and other businesses in the city are being reminded to leave the sites of major accidents untouched until police arrive.

“Police have discussed the situation and said, ‘Do not clean up the site,’ ” Kring said. “Now we are just going to move forward.”

Councilman Tom Tait said that he saw “no indication” that Disneyland received any special treatment in the matter.

“I think it’s clear that this was an accident scene and the police acted reasonably,” Tait said. “If the police chief feels he wants to clarify procedures, I’ll support him in that.”

Tait reiterated that it was a freak accident and that a crime was not committed.

“Without any indication that a crime had occurred, I don’t fault police for not rushing out there immediately,” he said. “The primary focus was to take care of the injured people.”