State to Probe Knott’s Berry Farm Accident

State officials will begin their investigation today into a weekend accident at Knott’s Berry Farm that injured a Calico Railroad ride conductor trapped under the train.

The ride remains closed pending completion of the investigation.

The injured employee, Carlos Garcia, was in stable condition Sunday at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, where he was being treated for injuries to both legs. A nursing supervisor said Garcia suffered multiple fractures to one leg and a fractured foot on the other leg.

It has not been determined how the Saturday evening accident occurred, park spokeswoman Susan Tierney said.

Tierney could not confirm initial reports from the Buena Park Police Department that Garcia might have been directing a woman away from the front of the train when it started moving.

The park’s security office called 911 at 7:30 p.m. The Orange County Fire Authority, with a station across the street, arrived at the park within two minutes.

Garcia was trapped beneath the “cowcatcher” at the front of the ride. It took firefighters 12 minutes to free Garcia’s legs from the ride using the Jaws of Life rescue device, fire officials said.

Park guests--none of whom were injured--were evacuated.

Pat Chavez, area manager for security, declined to comment on the accident because of the ongoing investigation.

“We’re all one family here,” he said, noting that park employees were all wishing Garcia well.

At the entrance to the Calico Railroad, a small sign simply informed park patrons that the ride was closed.

The slow-moving steam train tours the park’s west side, circling the Ghost Town and Boardwalk area. It is typically staffed with at least one conductor and two engineers.

The accident will be investigated both internally and by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Because no park guests were injured, it will not be investigated by the state’s amusement park regulators under a state law that provides for theme park oversight.

Cal/OSHA also investigated a 1996 accident on the same ride. Knott’s employee George Berecz, 55, was killed while trying to separate two of the train’s five cars when the passenger cars rolled together.