Orlando Sentinel

A Walt Disney World employee dies in an industrial accident near Disney’s Pop Century Resort.

- By Bianca Padró Ocasio and Gabrielle Russon

A Walt Disney World employee was killed in an industrial accident, the company confirmed Monday.

The Reedy Creek Fire Department responded to an unconsciou­s, unresponsi­ve man identified as Juan Alberto Ojeda, 33, on Century Drive, near Disney’s Pop Century Resort. He was declared dead at the scene shortly after 9 a.m., according to Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoma­n Ingrid Tejada-Monforte.

“All of us at Walt Disney World Resort are deeply saddened today by the loss of one of our Cast Members,” Walt Disney World Resort president George A. Kalogridis said in a statement. “Our thoughts and concerns are with his family, friends, and fellow coworkers.”

He said the company would be providing resources for people affected by the accident; he added the company is working with authoritie­s to determine the circumstan­ces of Ojeda’s death.

Pop Century Resort, which is next to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, is situated near Hollywood Studios.

No other informatio­n was immediatel­y available.

Constructi­on is currently under way to build a Pop Century gondola stop that it will share with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Walt Disney World is building the new aerial transporta­tion system that will connect some of its resorts with Epcot and Hollywood Studios via gondolas. No opening date has been announced for the gondola system.

When Pop Century Resort opened in 2003, it was considered the single-largest hotel in Walt Disney World Resort’s history, with 2,880 rooms on 235 acres. Its debut was delayed for two years because of a travel slump after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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