This past weekend at Hersheypark, an unusual but thankfully harmless incident unfolded. Around 5:05 p.m., a young boy separated from his family and went missing. He eventually slipped into a closed monorail station and, unnoticed for about 20 minutes, decided to walk along the tracks of the non-operational ride.
Videos of the rescue quickly made the rounds online. The boy appeared overwhelmed by the shouting crowd below, even raising his hands to his ears—a clear sign of sensory overload. The man who helped him confirmed the child is on the autism spectrum, which makes incidents like this, while concerning, unfortunately not uncommon.
As a parent of a child on the spectrum myself, I know how stressful and frightening moments like this can be. It’s not easy. Thankfully, the boy was unharmed and safely returned to his family.
The rescue itself was remarkable. A guest spotted a way to reach the track from a nearby rooftop, climbed up, and guided the boy back down. Hersheypark confirmed the monorail has been closed since June after a lightning strike and is still undergoing repairs.
For parents of children on the spectrum, situations like this hit close to home. It’s a reminder of the extra vigilance needed, but also of the importance of patience and understanding. Seeing the boy safely reunited with his family is a relief—and a reminder that, with awareness and community support, even tense moments can end well.