LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A miniature train that derailed and injured 22 people at the Louisville Zoo underwent daily inspections and passed a state examination in January, safety officials said today.
The zoo reopened at its normal time this morning while state investigators in charge of amusement rides worked to figure out why the train derailed Monday on ground-level tracks in a bend behind the gorilla exhibit. The train ride, which loops two miles around the zoo, remained closed.
One child, a 21-month-old girl, was critically injured when three open-air cars and the engine fell off the tracks. The girl was upgraded to serious condition today, said Brian Rublein, a spokesman for Kosair Children’s Hospital.
A 2-month-old boy also admitted to the hospital was expected to be discharged today, Rublein said.
Inspectors from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture returned to the zoo today to continue investigating, said department spokesman Ted Sloan.
Sloan said the ride operator must test and inspect the ride daily and that an inspection took place on Monday before the zoo opened for the day. The ride also passed an inspection on Jan. 22, before opening for the season and had received no prior complaints, Sloan said.
Zoo spokeswoman Kara Bussabarger said details about the daily inspection procedures were unavailable today because of the ongoing investigation into the crash.
The zoo said the attraction has been around for about 40 years but the train that derailed was bought in 2000.
Officials said there were about 30 people on board when the train derailed.
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