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Goldbelt Tram expected to be closed at least through the weekend after accident that injured employees
- Mark Sabbatini
- May 1
- 2 min read
Cable car ‘came in faster than anticipated, so it was just docking at a higher rate of speed,’ tram manager says; repairs will include visits by manufacturer, certification officials
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
The Goldbelt Tram is expected to be closed through this weekend, and likely beyond, following an accident Thursday night when one of the two cable cars came into the base station too fast, resulting in two employees in the car being taken to the hospital, according to officials.
Ben Moorhead, the tram’s director of operations and facilities, said in an interview Friday morning he came down to the station after being notified about the accident at about 9 p.m. Thursday. He said all five people in the car were tram employees.
"It came in faster than anticipated, so it was just docking at a higher rate of speed," he said.
Moorhead said one person knocked unconscious was among two brought to Bartlett Regional Hospital, but their injuries were not serious. Goldbelt, in a statement issued Friday, said both employees were evaluated at the hospital and released.
The tram was scheduled to open at 8 a.m. Friday, but is officially closed for the day as workers assess the tram’s facilities.
"Today we're just trying to figure out everything that happened," he said. "So I'm in contact with the lift manufacturer and in contact with people to make all the repairs."
The closure will likely extend beyond the weekend because representatives from the manufacturer and the agency that certifies the lift are coming to Juneau as part of the evaluation and repair process, Moorhead said.
"There’s just a lot of coordination that needs to happen," he said.
Capital City Fire/Rescue, in a Facebook post Thursday evening, stated medics and other emergency responders "successfully stabilized the cabin and gained access to all occupants," with three of the people in the car declining medical treatment.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
