A man and 14-year-old girl were treated for burns after what police are calling a “freak accident” while they were on the Hogwarts Express train ride at Universal Orlando Saturday.
The girl was riding on the train, which connects Universal Studios with Islands of Adventure, with her family who were visiting from Tennessee about 3:30 p.m. when a small fire ball shot at her, Orlando police said.
A group of young men from the Orlando area were riding on the train. One of them had an e-cigarette or vaporizer pen in his pocket that malfunctioned, officers said.
It blew up and caused a small explosion that left both the man and girl with injuries.
“It was just a weird, freak accident that unfortunately caused injuries to two people,” said police Lt. Dan Brady. “It wasn’t a big explosion but was definitely enough to scare everyone who was in that cab of the train.”
She was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children with mild to moderate burns on the right side of her face, arm and leg, Brady said.
There was a small burn hole in the train seat, but no other significant damage.
Officials from Universal Orlando said the ride was shut down temporarily. Brady said detectives are still investigating the incident and interviewing witnesses.
chayes@orlandosentinel.com, @Journo_Christal or 407-420-5493
