Traffic incidents are a routine part of operations at large resort destinations, particularly those connected directly to interstate highways. Over the weekend, a crash near Walt Disney World resulted in a one-month-old infant being hospitalized and a suspect taken into custody.
Walt Disney World Resort spans roughly 25,000 acres in Central Florida and relies on an extensive network of highways, access ramps, and internal roads. Those routes support daily traffic from guests, cast members, commercial deliveries, and emergency services.
Most vehicle-related incidents on Disney property are minor and handled without disruption. Still, the scale of the resort means serious crashes do occur, often drawing in state and county authorities rather than Disney security.
On Saturday, law enforcement responded to one such incident on a major access route serving EPCOT, one of the resort’s busiest theme parks.
Hit-and-Run Reported Near EPCOT Center Drive
The incident unfolded Saturday on the entrance ramp to EPCOT Center Drive from Interstate 4 (via FOX 35 Orlando).
A 24-year-old man from Apopka was taken into custody after a hit-and-run crash that left a one-month-old baby injured. The victim also reported that someone inside a Mercedes threw a plastic cup filled with liquid at their vehicle.
The infant, who was seated in the back of the car, was transported to a hospital by ambulance following the collision. Authorities did not release further details about the child’s condition.
Florida Highway Patrol located the suspect vehicle at approximately 3:30 p.m. Sunday near Bear Lake Road and McNeil Road. The passenger, identified as Marquail Travonte Jennings, matched the description provided by the victim.
Troopers also observed damage to the vehicle that was consistent with the reported crash. Officials did not release information about the driver at the time the vehicle was located.
Jennings initially told authorities that the other driver had left the scene and claimed the plastic cup had been thrown at him. Investigators later informed him that dashboard camera footage captured the incident.
After being confronted with the footage, Jennings acknowledged that the crash had not been reported. He was arrested on charges including felony hit-and-run with injury, battery, and assault.
Authorities have not indicated whether additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues. The case remains under the jurisdiction of Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred along a heavily trafficked corridor connecting Interstate 4 to EPCOT, an area that experiences consistent vehicle flow throughout the day.
Other Recent Incidents and a Broader Pattern
Walt Disney World consists of approximately 175 miles of roadways. With that scale, vehicle incidents — including hit-and-runs — are not uncommon across the property.
In 2023, a guest shared details on TikTok about a collision near Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. According to the account, the guest’s truck was rear-ended by another vehicle involving a Disney cast member.
During that incident, it was allegedly discovered that the cast member did not have a valid driver’s license and was uninsured. The cast member was reported to have fled the scene.
In 2022, guests also reported a hit-and-run inside the EPCOT parking lot that caused significant damage to a white van. The driver involved was not identified, based on public accounts.
The latest crash comes amid several other unrelated incidents reported at Disney-linked locations in recent days.
Late last week, authorities confirmed they were investigating a death at Disney Springs as a suspected suicide. The shopping and dining district remained open as law enforcement handled the situation.
On December 31, a cast member was injured during a performance of Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A 400-pound rubber boulder broke free from its track and moved toward the audience.
The former stunt performer placed himself between the prop and guests, later receiving stitches. Disney confirmed it planned to make adjustments to that portion of the show.
Separately, on the West Coast, a Disneyland guest required stitches after being attacked by another guest during a confrontation over line jumping at Indiana Jones Adventure.
Disney roadways are used by private vehicles, buses, delivery trucks, rideshare drivers, and emergency responders. Traffic volumes increase significantly during peak seasons and holidays.
