Girl, 9, Injured by ‘E. T.’ Ride Platform

A 9-year-old girl broke her leg Monday when she stepped in front of a moving platform on the “E. T.” ride at Universal Studios, authorities said.

Sara Wasson was struck by a slow-moving platform carrying nine bicycle seats and handles after she stepped onto the ride’s tracks about 4:20 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Bob Collis said.

The girl, who was pinned briefly between the platform and the floor, was taken by helicopter to Childrens Hospital, where she was in stable condition with a broken leg, nursing supervisor Gayle Coffey said.

The ride shut down automatically after the accident and remained closed for the rest of the day, park spokeswoman Joan Bullard said. Bullard said the girl appeared to have crossed a safety line and stepped into an area “where she shouldn’t have been.”

The girl was the first person to have been injured on a ride at the theme park, Bullard said. The “E. T.” attraction, which re-creates scenes from the popular film, “E.T.: The Extraterrestrial,” opened in June.