In a tragic twist straight out of a theme park nightmare, a Disneyland employee has passed away following a tumble from a golf cart that ended in a very un-magical fashion.
The employee in question was 60-year-old Bonnye Mavis Lear from Fullerton, California. Lear took an unexpected detour from her shift at the happiest place on Earth when she fell out of a moving golf cart and hit her head on June 5. Apparently, even in Disneyland, gravity still works!
Anaheim Police Department received a call just before 11:30 a.m. about a “traffic collision” backstage. Not quite the usual fender bender, Lear was found in what they described as “grave condition” – not exactly the kind of grave you’d expect in a whimsical place like Disneyland.
Lear was rushed to a local hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, she succumbed to her injuries two days later on June 7.
Anaheim Police Traffic Detectives, who usually deal with more traditional forms of traffic mayhem, are now on the case. They’re trying to piece together how a golf cart – usually the most harmless of vehicles – could turn deadly.
Disneyland, ever the silent mouse, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock did issue a heartfelt statement, which can only be described as a corporate hug: “We are heartbroken by the loss of Bonnye and offer our sincere condolences to everyone who cared for her.”
Potrock continued, “At this time, we are focused on supporting her family and our cast members through this tragic event and making sure they have the resources they need.” Because nothing says support like a pile of resources!
Lear was a long-time fixture at Club 33, Disneyland’s ultra-exclusive dining club in the New Orleans Square area. She had been making the magic happen behind the scenes for a whopping 24 years.
Here’s to Bonnye Mavis Lear – a devoted cast member whose final act reminds us all to buckle up, even on golf carts.