Disney Worker Hurt Shielding Guests from 400-lb Runaway Indiana Jones Prop

A Routine Show Turns Heroic

Anaheim, Calif. — What began as a standard Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! performance at Disneyland Park ended with a 34-year-old cast member hospitalized after he threw himself between a 400-pound rolling boulder prop and a crowd of stunned tourists.

“He Pushed Us Out of the Way”

According to guest cell-phone footage, the 12-foot fiberglass boulder broke free from its ceiling track shortly after 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. Instead of retreating, technician Miguel Alvarez sprinted across the Temple of the Forbidden Eye set, waving families backward before the runaway prop clipped his left shoulder and slammed into a faux-stone wall.

“He didn’t hesitate—he just yelled ‘Move!’ and shoved my kids behind a pillar,” said Ohio tourist Dana Kreitzer, still trembling an hour later. “That man saved us.”

Paramedics stabilized Alvarez at the scene and transported him to UCI Medical Center with a fractured collarbone and mild concussion. He was listed in fair condition Wednesday morning.

Federal Investigators on Scene

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened a probe, while California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health served Disney with a temporary notice to suspend all high-energy stunt effects statewide pending inspection.

• Disneyland Resort officials confirmed the boulder’s “quick-release brake” failed during a timed free-roll sequence.
• All 57 guests in the front three rows received complimentary park passes and hotel vouchers; no visitor injuries were reported.
• The Indiana Jones attraction will remain closed “until further notice,” a spokesperson said.

History of Animatronic Mishaps

Although Disney parks are statistically among the safest entertainment venues in the world, Tuesday’s incident is the third mechanical failure on U.S. properties this year. In March, a fire-breathing dragon head caught fire at Magic Kingdom, and in January a Tower of Terror elevator mis-leveled, stranding guests for 45 minutes.

Union leaders argue staffing cuts have left maintenance teams stretched thin. “We’ve warned executives that trimming overnight techs would catch up with them,” said Matt Bell, president of the Workers United Local 50. “Miguel shouldn’t have been the last line of defense.”

What Happens Next?

Disney has 24 hours to file a preliminary incident report to OSHA. If regulators find “serious” safety violations, fines can reach $161,485 per infraction. The company declined to speculate on reopening dates, promising only to “support our injured cast member and reinforce our commitment to guest safety.”

Meanwhile, well-wishers have covered a backstage security fence with handwritten notes: “Get well, Miguel—our hero in a fedora.”