6 People Injured Evacuating Water Ride At Disney World

Tuesday, May 29th 2007, 4:18 pm

By: News On 6

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) _ Five visitors to Walt Disney World and an employee suffered minor injuries Tuesday while evacuating a water ride that had malfunctioned, authorities said.

The injured guests were a family of four and a teenager, said Bo Jones, Reedy Creek's deputy fire chief. They suffered neck and back pain and other bumps and bruises, but no serious injuries.

A sensor on the Kali River Rapids ride tripped, stopping it and forcing riders to evacuate, said Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak. The injuries happened while people were moving from floats to a walkway, she said, but she did not give details on exactly how they occurred.

Disney determined the problem was a faulty exit platform. The park removed the platform and reopened the ride Tuesday.

The ride simulates a river rapids trip through a rain forest in the Animal Kingdom part of Disney World.

``Nothing like this has ever happened,'' Polak said.