Tram crash at Universal Studios Hollywood leaves over a dozen injured. What happened?

Daniel de Visé and Julia Gomez, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read

A tram crashed at a Universal Studios theme park in Southern California on Saturday night, leaving 15 people injured.

Several passengers fell off the tram in the crash, which unfolded during a studio tour, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office told USA TODAY in a statement.

The theme park confirmed in a separate statement that the “tram incident” had resulted in “multiple minor injuries.”

“We are working to support our guests and understand the circumstances that led to the accident,” the theme park said.

What happened in the tram crash?

The crash came during the World-Famous Studio Tour of the Universal backlot. The four-car tram had just passed a "Jurassic Park" exhibit and was negotiating a turn when the last car collided with a metal guardrail, "causing it to tilt and eject multiple passengers," the California Highway Patrol said in a crash report.

“There was some type of issue with the brakes,” Sheriff's Lt. Maria Abal told the Los Angeles Times. “We don’t exactly know what yet.”

An emergency call around 9 p.m. Saturday summoned rescuers to the park, which is part of the Universal Studios complex in Universal City in San Fernando Valley.

Fifteen tram passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment of "minor to moderate injuries," the Highway Patrol said, adding that drugs and alcohol were not considered to be factors. The agency will continue to investigate.

Universal Studios' iconic globe spins outside of Universal Studios Florida. A tram crashed Saturday night at a sister studio in California.
Universal Studios' iconic globe spins outside of Universal Studios Florida. A tram crashed Saturday night at a sister studio in California.

Aerial footage from KCAL-TV in Los Angeles showed paramedics treating several injured patrons and removing at least one on a stretcher.

A tram at the theme park can hold more than 100 people, Abal told the Times. She did not know how many people were on board at the time of the crash.

The tram tour is a top-drawer attraction at the theme park, according to its website. The park is celebrating the ride’s 60th anniversary. The tram takes patrons behind the curtain on iconic movie sets, including “Jaws,” “King Kong” and “Fast & Furious.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Universal Studios Hollywood tram crash leaves over a dozen injured