Death on Disney Ride

[rkmsuf]

WTF...do they have to make rides like this. I mean come on. This is awful...it's supposed to be a FUN park.

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Boy dies after riding Disney space ride in Florida By Barbara Liston
1 hour, 1 minute ago



ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - A 4-year-old boy died after going on a Walt Disney World thrill ride that uses centrifugal force to simulate the weightlessness, and often the queasiness, of a rocket launch, investigators said on Tuesday.


The boy met the 44-inch (112 cm) height requirement for the Mission: SPACE ride at Disney's Epcot Center park and his mother said he had no history of medical problems, said Orange County Sheriff's Cpl. Carlos Torres.

He initially seemed fine during the Monday afternoon ride, Torres said.

"She said she did notice he was a little rigid, maybe because of the excitement of the ride. She thought he might have been afraid so she grabbed his hand," he said.

But when the ride ended, he was limp and unresponsive, Torres said.

The boy, Daudi Bamuwamye of Sellersville, Pennsylvania, was carried out of the attraction by his mother, Agnes, and placed on a bench where Epcot employees attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He was taken to nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead on Monday afternoon.

An autopsy was ordered to determine the cause of death.

The ride was closed after the incident on Monday but reopened as usual Tuesday morning, said Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak.

Torres said investigators inspected the ride as well as the compartment in which Bamuwamye rode with his mother and 8-year-old sister, Ruth. They found no evidence that the boy had vomited and no possible explanation for his death, he said.

The $100 million ride, Disney's most technologically advanced attraction, is a simulator ride that uses spinning centrifugal force to create the sensation of a rocket launch. After lifting off on a pretend trip to Mars, riders experience a momentary feeling of weightlessness, and some complain of nausea. Motion sickness bags are stowed in each ride compartment.

Disney says that Mission: SPACE's G-forces are less than a typical roller coaster, but thrill ride fans say the G-forces are considerably longer than the momentary bursts on a roller coaster.

Multiple warning signs and recorded audio tracks at the Mission: SPACE entrance and in the queue discourage visitors from riding the attraction if they are pregnant or have heart conditions or back and neck problems.

A Disney fan-administered Web site cautions that enough riders over age 55 have complained of chest pain or nausea to become a concern, although the site notes that most of those guests had pre-existing conditions that are specifically mentioned in the posted warning signs.

[Raiders Army]

That is absolutely horrible. The real question is why would a mother take her son on that ride? He's four years old. Wouldn't he be better suited for the teacups? I know that even if my four year old son wanted to ride and he met the height requirement, I would have a lot of hesitation in letting him ride.

[rkmsuf]

right but if it says 44 inches then you would think it's safe right? I mean we are buying their bullsh$t 50 dollar tickets to begin with. At least you'd expect attractions with a ZERO casualty rate for qualifying riders. I don't think that's too much to ask for.

[Samdari]

At least you'd expect attractions with a ZERO casualty rate for qualifying riders. I don't think that's too much to ask for.

Actually, it is. People die. At random times. If you have millions of people riding rides for 2 minutes thousands of times a day, some of them simply have to die.

[rkmsuf]

Actually, it is. People die. At random times. If you have millions of people riding rides for 2 minutes thousands of times a day, some of them simply have to die.

Not as a result of your entertainment. You are saying that this kid, sitting at home in front of the tv, keels over regardless then.

I mean simulated rocket launch? Give me a f-king break. Not every Disney customer is cut out for a rocket launch. According to their guidelines anyone over 44 inches tall and no other symptons is.

I'm pretty sure NASA puts them through some other tests.

[sachmo71]

I would ride this ride. I'm not sure I would take my kids on it, though.

[sterlingice]

right but if it says 44 inches then you would think it's safe right? I mean we are buying their bullsh$t 50 dollar tickets to begin with. At least you'd expect attractions with a ZERO casualty rate for qualifying riders. I don't think that's too much to ask for.
I think that's entirely too much to ask. You could have a four year old walk outside, have a bird fall out of the sky and impale itself on his jugular. Or walk outside after a light frost, slip on a really small patch of ice, fall over, and die. Or walks outside when raining, the water just happens to have rolled off of a peanut in the mouth of a bird and he's deathly allergic to peanuts. Or maybe he just has a birth defect in his heart, takes a step outside and dies.

It doesn't look like Disney did anything wrong here and sometimes accidents do happen. Try being the engineer- how do you design for the one fluke death while millions of people have ridden this ride without any incident? Do you not use scissors because there's a chance you could somehow injure yourself when using them?

SI

[rkmsuf]

I think that's entirely too much to ask. You could have a four year old walk outside, have a bird fall out of the sky and impale itself on his jugular. Or walk outside after a light frost, slip on a really small patch of ice, fall over, and die. Or walks outside when raining, the water just happens to have rolled off of a peanut in the mouth of a bird and he's deathly allergic to peanuts. Or maybe he just has a birth defect in his heart, takes a step outside and dies.

It doesn't look like Disney did anything wrong here and sometimes accidents do happen. Try being the engineer- how do you design for the one fluke death while millions of people have ridden this ride without any incident? Do you not use scissors because there's a chance you could somehow injure yourself when using them?

SI

Simple, don't design a ride where there is a chance of DEATH because of the ride.

Of course people keel over but I'm talking about as a result of G forces or something like that.

I really think these "engineers" are pushing the limits of reasonable entertainment. This isn't an isolated incident.

[Samdari]

Not as a result of your entertainment. You are saying that this kid, sitting at home in front of the tv, keels over regardless then.

I mean simulated rocket launch? Give me a f-king break. Not every Disney customer is cut out for a rocket launch. According to their guidelines anyone over 44 inches tall and no other symptons is.

I'm pretty sure NASA puts them through some other tests.

I agree that deaths as a result of the entertainment provided should be exceptionally rare (I think even with that condition, guaranteeing zero would be impossible) if a requirement of noone ever dying on the ride were imposed, there would be no rides anywhere.

Also, we do not yet know that this kid actually did die as a result of the entertainment provided. I would bet he had a condition that was unkown to anyone, and riding the ride with such condition was the problem. After all, if 44 inches is the only requirement, I bet thousands (at a minimum) of 44 inch 4 year olds have ridden this ride in the past without dying.

I do find it really surprising that they operated the ride the next day however. I would think that some sort of official inquiry into his death by local authorities, and CYA if not mock concern by Disney would have kept it closed a few days at least.

[Samdari]

don't design a ride where there is a chance of DEATH because of the ride.

Well, Engineers don't have data that include the amount of G's that would kill every person who might ever be born (and over 44" tall). You really are asking the impossible. There is simply NO activity for which anyone can guarantee a death rate of zero.

[Raiders Army]

Disney says that Mission: SPACE's G-forces are less than a typical roller coaster, but thrill ride fans say the G-forces are considerably longer than the momentary bursts on a roller coaster.

Multiple warning signs and recorded audio tracks at the Mission: SPACE entrance and in the queue discourage visitors from riding the attraction if they are pregnant or have heart conditions or back and neck problems.
While I agree that death should never be caused by riding these rides, it was certainly not intentional. Additionally, do you blame the park or the mother or both for the death?

Many people warn against the dangers of driving a car, yet people die in cars every day. The car manufacturers can install all sorts of safety devices, yet some responsibility has to lie with the people who drive them...just like some responsibility has to lie with the mother.

The kid was four years old. He's not in a position as to decide whether he goes on a ride or not. The parents are ultimately responsible.

[rkmsuf]

Maybe zero is unattainable but I just think subjecting people to forces unnatural to "normal" folk is irresponsible. Particularly when you charge them huge fees to get into the park.

I mean anything can happen but compare the fatality rate to all McDonalds restaraunts and these rides and you tell me where the random element lies.

[Aylmar]

I mean anything can happen but compare the fatality rate to all McDonalds restaraunts and these rides and you tell me where the random element lies.

Long or short term fatality rate?

[Julio Riddols]

It would seem to me that it is up to the rider if they want to go on a ride and/or take their kids. It was a bad decision, nothing more, nothing less. A tragedy, but not something to be outraged about IMO. There are warnings for a reason, and I am sure that they will change the requirements for this ride to help avoid future incidents.

[judicial clerk]

All your questions and concerns will all be addressed in the lawsuits.

[Samdari]

I just think subjecting people to forces unnatural to "normal" folk is irresponsible. Particularly when you charge them huge fees to get into the park.

Well, being subjected to forces they don't normally face is the allure of thrill rides. People are paying those huge fees specifically for the opportunity to be subjected to those forces.

Now, maybe Disney did irresponsibly design this ride, or set the requirements for riding it irresponsibly. We don't know nearly enough to decide that yet though. This could have been a random death that happened to occur on a perfectly safe ride. We just don't know yet. But, because his mother happened to say he was "perfectly healthy," we can't just jump to the conclusion that this ride is extremely dangerous. After all, we do know millions of people have ridden it without dying.

[Mustang]

Maybe zero is unattainable but I just think subjecting people to forces unnatural to "normal" folk is irresponsible. Particularly when you charge them huge fees to get into the park.


I think a ride, by definition, subjects people to unnatural forces. Be it a teacup ride or this one. There is a choice one has to either go on the ride or not. Disney does not force you to go on this ride and there is an element of danger that can occur.

You can not protect everyone from everything. You can do things to minimize the risk but, accidents do happen unfortunately.

[gstelmack]

I predict it will turn out this kid had a not-yet diagnosed heart issue.

[JonInMiddleGA]

As those who know me (and our frequent family trips to WDW) might imagine, this story definitely got my attention this morning.

As it happens, Mission:Space was the highlight ride of the final night of our most recent trip a few months back, so this is even fresher in my mind.

The ride is a more intense experience than most park attractions, that's for certain. But it was quite obvious (to us) that it was tougher on me, for example, than it was on our 7 y/o daredevil.

Other than some lightheadedness after the 2nd time around no ill effects on any of us, and that was very likely a product of being too tired & having not eaten properly that day combined with riding twice a little too close together.

I'm not a big "thrill ride" person (much to my family's chagrin), so if I give something marks as being passable, you have to figure it's relatively tame ... and far safer IMO than some of the roller coasters, or the new Soarin' ride, etc.

Having ridden it, my layman's guess would be that this particular child had some undiscovered heart condition or circulatory problem, one that would have put him at risk for any number of activites -- this just happened to be the one where it was revealed.

[sterlingice]

Simple, don't design a ride where there is a chance of DEATH because of the ride.

Of course people keel over but I'm talking about as a result of G forces or something like that.

I really think these "engineers" are pushing the limits of reasonable entertainment. This isn't an isolated incident.
There's no such thing as "no chance of death".

There are millions and millions of theme park visitors a year and every year a couple die. It's not possible to predict every way someone can die. You certainly try to minimize the chance, you don't intentially cut corners, but this is one of those "how much is too much".

For instance, you complain about the $50 cost of the ticket. How about if it costs $20000 to go to Disney because every person riding on every ride is subjected to an MRI, CAT scan, and full physical before and after every ride. It might prevent one or two deaths, but it would put Disney out of business and what rights do they have?

SI

[Samdari]

I predict it will turn out this kid had a not-yet diagnosed heart issue.

I was thinking about-to-burst brain aneurism.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Simple, don't design a ride where there is a chance of DEATH because of the ride.

Well, let's see here ...

Space Mountain gets shut down immediately -- heights, abrupt turns, speed
Splash Mountain goes too -- enough water to drown you, and a 52 foot drop ain't exactly natural.
Astro Orbiter -- one rambunctious moment & down you go ... gotta close it
Big Thunder Mtn RR -- see Space Mountain, minus the height -- gone
Pirates of the Carribean & It's A Small World -- all that water to drown in
Magic Carpets of Alladin & Dumbo - plenty of height for a fall to kill you
Peter Pan's Flight -- one mechanical failure & you're dumped a long way down into the London street scene, so it's gotta go.
Goofy's Barnstormer -- ever see how high that short little ride is off the ground? Closed
Jungle Cruise, Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat -- one problem & those boats will sink quick, drowing tens of people. Gone
WDW Railroad -- one slip & under the wheels you go
Haunted Mansion -- nobody is likely to survive a drop backwards "down the roof" to the graveyard. It's gotta go too.
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway -- One sharp collision from behind could snap an unsuspecting neck.
Swiss Family Treehouse -- I think that actually may be the highest accessible point in the whole park, and it's literally waiting for one false step to claim your life.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority -- those outdoor segments are too high off the ground

Let's see, that leaves ... Hall of Presidents, County Bear Jamboree, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Cinderella's Golden Carousel (and it's iffy), Donald's Boat, Mickey & Minnie's Country House, Philharmagic, The Enchanted Tiki Room, Pooh, Timekeeper, Mad Tea Party, Cinderella's Castle, Carousel of Progress, Stitch's Great Escape,Frontierland Arcade and Snow White (which actually has one of the highest rates of terrified children of any Disney attraction, it should probably go too).

Add that up, and what's left is basically a small school fair with some animatronic show plus a couple of high-tech rides.

[DanGarion]

I think we should ban sports, I mean come on, people die!!!!! ON NOES!!!!!111!1one!

Riding a ride at Disneyland or any amusement park is safer then driving a car.

[sachmo71]

I think a ride, by definition, subjects people to unnatural forces. Be it a teacup ride or this one. There is a choice one has to either go on the ride or not. Disney does not force you to go on this ride and there is an element of danger that can occur.

You can not protect everyone from everything. You can do things to minimize the risk but, accidents do happen unfortunately.


I believe gravity is a natural force. If it exists, that is.

[Celeval]

Although this article doesn't state it, the one I read on CNN mentions the standard amusement park sign - "Do not ride this ride if you have high blood pressure, heart problems, etc..." I agree with before, chances are the kid had a weak heart or some other condition. They hadn't found it yet, and the ride exacerbated it. Not much else can be done there.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

The kid may have had some sort of illness or maybe a brain aneurism during the ride. Regardless to say it is sad.

[Marc Vaughan]

Well, Engineers don't have data that include the amount of G's that would kill every person who might ever be born (and over 44" tall). You really are asking the impossible. There is simply NO activity for which anyone can guarantee a death rate of zero.

If there was an activity with a guarenteed death rate of zero it'd be worth millions ..... even if it was a boring way to ensure immortality ;)

[ISiddiqui]

Jesus Christ... people are blaming Disney without any knowledge of why the kid died? You gotta be kidding me? How many people have ridden on the ride without dying?

Oh, and Jon, I also read that a 77 year old woman died while on Pirates of the Carribean, so you can mark that on your list as a ride that has already killed!

[DanGarion]

WTF...do they have to make rides like this. I mean come on. This is awful...it's supposed to be a FUN park.


Do you go outdoors?

[rexallllsc]

If I had to guess which ride someone died on, this one would be a ways down the list.

I think anyone who has ridden on it would agree. This is not a crazy ride by any means.

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-bk-epcotdeath061405,0,779821.story?coll=orl-home-headlines
An autopsy this afternoon did not reveal any obvious cause of death, such as trauma. The office now will do more tests on the boy to determine exactly what caused the death -- a process that could take four to 12 weeks.

[Bad-example]

An autopsy this afternoon did not reveal any obvious cause of death, such as trauma. The office now will do more tests on the boy to determine exactly what caused the death -- a process that could take four to 12 weeks

Damn...12 weeks is a long time to wait before burying your 4 year old :(

[JonInMiddleGA]

B-e, they won't always hold the body that long, that's just how long some lab results take to get back (not many things more overworked, in my experiences, than a state crime lab, which is where a lot of tests like that are done)

[Bad-example]

Good point. I hope they don't have to wait too long.

[Young Drachma]

I agree that deaths as a result of the entertainment provided should be exceptionally rare (I think even with that condition, guaranteeing zero would be impossible) if a requirement of noone ever dying on the ride were imposed, there would be no rides anywhere.

Also, we do not yet know that this kid actually did die as a result of the entertainment provided. I would bet he had a condition that was unkown to anyone, and riding the ride with such condition was the problem. After all, if 44 inches is the only requirement, I bet thousands (at a minimum) of 44 inch 4 year olds have ridden this ride in the past without dying.

I do find it really surprising that they operated the ride the next day however. I would think that some sort of official inquiry into his death by local authorities, and CYA if not mock concern by Disney would have kept it closed a few days at least.


I was surprised they opened it the next day, too. But maybe they thought it'd be admitting guilt.

[ShaqFu]

All your questions and concerns will all be addressed in the lawsuits.

Nope. Disney usually offers a lump sum before ever going to court. Read "Mouse Tales" or "More Mouse Tales." I actually haven't had the chance to head up to Orlando yet to try this out, but I will soon.

It almost sounds like this ride is just a play on the old Gravitron, where the spinning plastered you against the wall and you rose off the floor. Disney just changed the ride vehicle and threw in the theme.

The problem with shutting a ride like this down for good is that you pretty much have to shut down most of the new roller coasters built in the past few years. Several coasters now exceed speeds of over 100 mph. Others drop guests down 400+ foot drops, some 90 degrees vertical. They produce excessive Gs.

I think in the case of this attraction, the motion is intensified over something like Gravitron. They're adding in the intensity of something like Star Tours too. Perhaps that is too much for some guests.

Also, many are making an argument for the physical effects. One has to also consider the mental/emotional effects. You can go into cardiac shock by simply through fear. Ever hear the phrase "scared to death?"

Given the boy's age, that is a real possiblity. Perhaps Disney will have to raise the minimum age on the ride and/or increase the minimum height. Of course, it's not hart to beat height requirements. Many Disney travel guides tell parents how to beat the rules, by putting inserts, cotton, wood, etc. into shoes.

Sad that this happened, but I think the bigger problem is when people don't think before they ride. Disney offers so much more at its Florida theme parks, that missing one ride shouldn't ruin the trip.

[Galaxy]

Given the boy's age, that is a real possiblity. Perhaps Disney will have to raise the minimum age on the ride and/or increase the minimum height. Of course, it's not hart to beat height requirements. Many Disney travel guides tell parents how to beat the rules, by putting inserts, cotton, wood, etc. into shoes.


True, but if the parents "beat the rules", then Disney wouldn't be responsible.

[astrosfan64]

Simple, don't design a ride where there is a chance of DEATH because of the ride.

Of course people keel over but I'm talking about as a result of G forces or something like that.

I really think these "engineers" are pushing the limits of reasonable entertainment. This isn't an isolated incident.

Cancel football season please. "sarcasim"
I mean there is a chance of someone dying playing football for our entertainment.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Cancel football season please. "sarcasim"
I mean there is a chance of someone dying playing football for our entertainment.
Well, that DID happen in the Arena Football League this year...

[JeffR]

Given the boy's age, that is a real possiblity. Perhaps Disney will have to raise the minimum age on the ride and/or increase the minimum height. Of course, it's not hart to beat height requirements. Many Disney travel guides tell parents how to beat the rules, by putting inserts, cotton, wood, etc. into shoes.

Really, I'm surprised they don't enforce it a lot more strictly already. A friend of mine was in middle management at Universal Studios Florida for a few years. From the stories she tells, a good chunk of the serious ride injuries come from dumbass parents dragging their small kids onto thrill rides. One that sticks in my mind was a grossly obese guy who had his young son sitting next to him on a ride. The restraining bar was the kind that covers everybody in the whole car. Fatso's stomach blocked it from going down all the way, somehow that wasn't detected by the ride operator, and the kid went flying at the first sharp turn. They replaced the restraint system after that, but the kid (who survived) and his family lost their court case.

Which, I suppose, might be why they don't get too harsh with the enforcement. A good legal department and plenty of warning signs might be working fine for them financially.

[ShaqFu]

Which, I suppose, might be why they don't get too harsh with the enforcement. A good legal department and plenty of warning signs might be working fine for them financially.

The best warning is on the back of the admission ticket, where the park usually puts disclaimers about injuries and such. The parks can treat that as a contract that is in effect the moment you pass the turnstyle.

[cthomer5000]

WTF...do they have to make rides like this. I mean come on. This is awful...it's supposed to be a FUN park.
Yes. Shame on Disney for creating a ride that they knew would kill people. And I'm sure no-one found this ride run. No one at all.

I'll lay heavy money the kid has some medical condition and the timing was coincidental.

[CraigSca]

My wife and I both said, "you put a 4 year old on that ride?!". Having a 4 year old daughter, we can relate and know damn well we would never put the child on a ride that provides barf bags and warnings to senior citizens.

That being said, unless there was some gross negligence on Disney's part (falsification of test records or the like), I just seem this as a purely random occurrence. As others have suggested, the child probably had some ailment or condition that, unfortunately, remained undetected until his demise.

[rkmsuf]

Well, being subjected to forces they don't normally face is the allure of thrill rides. People are paying those huge fees specifically for the opportunity to be subjected to those forces.

Now, maybe Disney did irresponsibly design this ride, or set the requirements for riding it irresponsibly. We don't know nearly enough to decide that yet though. This could have been a random death that happened to occur on a perfectly safe ride. We just don't know yet. But, because his mother happened to say he was "perfectly healthy," we can't just jump to the conclusion that this ride is extremely dangerous. After all, we do know millions of people have ridden it without dying.

This I agree with.

[Ksyrup]

I was surprised they opened it the next day, too. But maybe they thought it'd be admitting guilt.Under Florida law (and, I assume, many other states' laws), any actions undertaken after an accident which causes injury or harm to remedy the problem (otherwise known as subsequent remedial measures) are inadmissible to prove negligence, defect, or culpable conduct. This is a public policy consideration so that problems are not left unfixed for fear of losing a lawsuit, thereby leaving potentially dangerous conditions unchecked. So even if Disney had found a problem and fixed it, it couldn't be used against them in court (generally speaking, anyway. There are other ways to get it before the jury/judge).

[wbatl1]

Just some stats I heard this morning for those of you who think this ride should be closed. 8.6 million people have ridden the ride. 6 have had to go to the hospital with minor injuries(diziness, ect.) and one death. That is less than one in a million chance of even having a minor injury, much less death.

[rkmsuf]

Cross off the Log Flume

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Family Injured Because N.J. Water Ride Was Dry
Ride To Remain Closed Pending Probe

POSTED: 6:33 am HST June 19, 2005
UPDATED: 6:41 am HST June 19, 2005

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- A ride on the Atlantic City, N.J., boardwalk is expected to stay closed until state officials finish investigating a mishap that left a family injured.



City fire officials said the five family members from Philadelphia were hurt on the Big Splash log flume ride Saturday.

The car the five were riding in went down an incline and into a basin that was supposed to be filled with water but was apparently empty.

The father was thrown from the ride.

Authorities said he was hospitalized, but hospital officials would not release his condition.

The mother and three children suffered minor injuries in the accident, which happened about 2:30 p.m.

The family members' names were not released.
Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved

[ShaqFu]

Cross off the Log Flume


The car the five were riding in went down an incline and into a basin that was supposed to be filled with water but was apparently empty.


Huh?

[Wolfpack]

The car the five were riding in went down an incline and into a basin that was supposed to be filled with water but was apparently empty.

Umm...how is this possible? Were they like the first riders of the day and the people didn't check the pool for water or something? Even if there were prior boats that pushed water out, usually the flue that sends people in is also contributing water to re-fill the basin. Strange.

[QuikSand]

This has great potential to become an ongoing forum quest for rkmsuf. May I be the first to suggest a dedicated thread in the Dynasty section? "My Crusade Against Thrill Ride Injuries" has a nice ring to it, though I suspect he could work in a movie quote and make it even wittier.

[Mustang]

How the hell do you forget water on a water ride? Plus, at 2:30 in the afternoon.. was it shut down for maintenance and then reopened? (I'd imagine this was the first family down...)

That or a really really fat person went down and displaced all the water out of the basin...

[rkmsuf]

This has great potential to become an ongoing forum quest for rkmsuf. May I be the first to suggest a dedicated thread in the Dynasty section? "My Crusade Against Thrill Ride Injuries" has a nice ring to it, though I suspect he could work in a movie quote and make it even wittier.

It is my density.

[Drake]

Wow. When I got up this morning, I said to myself "Self, I'll bet there is a zero percent chance you will read a message board today where someone makes an obscure Back to the Future reference."

Now I owe myself $20. Thanks a lot, rkmsuf!

[rkmsuf]

:)

[rkmsuf]

This is like an onion. The more you peel, the more it stinks.

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Popular Six Flags ride shut down
Chuck Squatriglia, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

A popular ride at Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo remains closed today as park officials and state regulators try to determine why it left a 7-old-girl feeling nauseated and numb.
Investigators with Cal OSHA spent Monday testing and inspecting the park's Hammerhead Shark ride, which swings like a pendulum before sending riders on a 360-degree whirl, after shutting it down first thing Sunday morning.

Park spokesman Paul Garcia said park officials received a call from authorities at San Francisco General Hospital who said they were treating a girl who said she had a headache, nausea and numbness. The girl told doctors she'd spent Saturday at Six Flags, Garcia said, and the attraction she described riding matched the Hammerhead Shark.

"We voluntarily suspended operation of the ride and notified Cal OSHA," Garcia said.

Park officials inspected and tested the ride Sunday and found nothing wrong with it, but notified Cal OSHA -- as is standard procedure, Garcia said. The ride will remain closed until Cal OSHA approves reopening it, Garcia said.

Cal OSHA has not released its findings, and agency officials could not be reached for comment this morning.

The Hammerhead Shark was installed in 1996 and has had no history of problems, Garcia said.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Let me get this straight ... a 7 y/o rode something that "swings like a pendulum before ... a 360 degree whirl" ... and there's curiosity about why she was experiencing nausea?

Damn, only in California.

[Ksyrup]

No kidding. It would think that itdoesn't take too much to get nauseous on a ride like that...for instance, if you've either just eaten or not eaten at all, or factoring in heat, it wouldn't be a surprise for anyone, regardless of age, to experience nausea. Next thing you know, they're going to report that this kind of ride gives people an "unknown dizzy feeling."

[DanGarion]

I get sick feeling before the ride, does that mean I can get them to shut it down before I ride it?

[sterlingice]

This is like an onion. The more you peel, the more it stinks.
O, for a rolleyes smiley. Oh wait, we have one: http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

SI

[rkmsuf]

Believe me now and hear me later.

[sabotai]

Investigators with Cal OSHA spent Monday testing and inspecting the park's Hammerhead Shark ride, which swings like a pendulum before sending riders on a 360-degree whirl, after shutting it down first thing Sunday morning.
There are like a thousand of these rides on the Jersey Shore alone...

[korme]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-bk-epcotdeath061405,0,779821.story?coll=orl-home-headlines
An autopsy this afternoon did not reveal any obvious cause of death, such as trauma. The office now will do more tests on the boy to determine exactly what caused the death -- a process that could take four to 12 weeks.
Sounds eerily normal. A friend of mine who died entering his sophomore year of high school, passed away in his sleep from unknown causes. It was later found in that 4-12 week period that he had a very rare heart condition where fat was growing where it wasn't supposed to.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Is the ride still closed or is it operational now?

[Dutch]

Speaking of dying at DisneyWorld. I almost died while experiencing "Alien Encounter". Jesus, that was the scariest damn thing I think I ever experienced. And when it sounded like the Alien was ripping apart somebody on the other side of the chamber and the teen-age girls started screaming. Talk about freaking out, I thought I was going to have heart-failure.

It was so bad for me that I simply had to wait in line and do it all over again.

[rkmsuf]

Yes folks, they got another one. I'm organizing a march or something.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disneyland ride closed after woman becomes ill
Wed Jun 29, 2005 04:03 PM ET
Printer Friendly | Email Article | Reprints | RSS



LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Disneyland closed the roller-coaster-style Matterhorn Bobsleds ride at its Anaheim, California theme park for about a day to investigate a 62-year-old Peruvian woman's complaints that she became ill while riding, authorities said on Wednesday.
The woman, whose name and condition were not made public, was taken to a hospital after experiencing dizziness and nausea at about 6 p.m. on Monday, Anaheim police spokesman Rick Martinez said. The ride was reopened at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, a Disneyland spokesman said.

The incident came about two weeks after a young boy died after going on a space ride at Walt Disney World in Florida.

In an unrelated case, the California Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the Walt Disney Co and other theme park owners have a heightened duty to ensure the safety of guests on rides.

That ruling clearing the way for the family of a 23-year-old woman to sue Disney over a fatal brain injury that came after she rode the Indian Jones ride during her 2000 honeymoon.

On Monday, the Peruvian woman rested for about an hour at the park's medical station but was taken by paramedics to a nearby hospital when her condition did not improve, Maria Sabol, Anaheim Fire Department spokeswoman said. The woman's condition was not immediately available on Wednesday.

Disney officials said in a statement that the ride was closed for about 24-hours so that it could be inspected by state health and safety officials.

"We are concerned for the health of this guest and our first priority is to ensure that she gets the care she needs," the statement said.

hxxp://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8931889

[DanGarion]

Yes folks, they got another one. I'm organizing a march or something.



My girlfriend got clausterphobic/sick feeling when we took a tour in a cave at Sequoia National Park this weekend. I think they should close it down now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Once again, a serious example of "WTF did you expect to experience on this ride"?

Maybe it's time for Disney, et al to start screening the rank idiots at the gate.

[DanGarion]

Once again, a serious example of "WTF did you expect to experience on this ride"?

Maybe it's time for Disney, et al to start screening the rank idiots at the gate.
Come on man it's Disney's fault. Just like I'm going to sue the National Parks Service because my gf got sick feeling, oh and Mother Nature!

[Mustang]

Let's see.. articles on a 7 year old, 62 year old and the original was what.. a 5 year old?

Umm.. aren't there signs about dangers for the young and old??


Ohh.. wait a minute. I'm feeling kinda sick right now.. Skydog, please close this forum down for 24 hours.

[sterlingice]

I'm sure this has nothing to do with the recent death and increased visibility and possiblity of liability. Everyone's just being super cautious because it's a lightning rod right now.

SI

[rkmsuf]

the truth must be told

[DanGarion]

the truth must be told
I'm waiting.

[rkmsuf]

I'm waiting.

Come on, it's so simple. Maybe you need a refresher course.

[Ksyrup]

Autopsy shows boy died at Disney from heart condition

Associated Press
<!-- begin body-content -->

ORLANDO, Fla. - The death of a 4-year-old boy after he went on a rocket-ship ride at Walt Disney World was caused by abnormal cardiac rhythms from a heart condition that he apparently had since birth, according to an autopsy released Tuesday.

Daudi Bamuwamye died after riding "Mission: Space" in June. He had an abnormality of the heart muscle called idiopathic myocardial hypertrophy, with fibroelastosis of the left ventricle, the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office said.

"People with this condition are at risk for sudden death throughout their life due to abnormal electrical heart rhythms," the medical examiner's office said. "This risk could be increased under physical or emotional stressful situations. This condition may also eventually lead to heart failure."

The $100 million Epcot ride, one of Disney World's most popular, was closed after the death but reopened after company engineers concluded it was operating normally.

"Mission: Space" spins riders in a giant centrifuge that subjects them to twice the normal force of gravity, and it is so intense that some riders have been taken to the hospital with chest pain.

<!-- end body-content -->

[Ksyrup]

the truth must be told
You can't handle the truth.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I predict it will turn out this kid had a not-yet diagnosed heart issue.

Got any lottery numbers I should consider?

[Ksyrup]

Should have asked him back in June.

[Joe Canadian]

Is rkmsuf for real?

[rkmsuf]

Is rkmsuf for real?


massive coverup.

[Glengoyne]

massive coverup. I think that's your best hope.

[rkmsuf]

I think that's your best hope.

They've got the water parks now.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Teen drowns at Gillian's water park
(Friday, September 2, 2005) - At Gillian's Wonderland Pier and Island Water Park in Ocean City, New Jersey, a 14-year-old girl drowned in a ten-foot-deep pool at the end of a water slide called Shot Gun Falls. She was unconscious when lifeguards pulled her from the water. Attempts to revive the girl were unsuccessful. The victim went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The edge of the slide is raised six feet above the surface of the pool. The park's website says that the ride is "for the more adventurous."

Police are investigating.

[gstelmack]

Got any lottery numbers I should consider?
Only if it's a one-number lottery with one ball (which is how obvious I considered my prediction to be).

[Joe Canadian]

Someone drowned in the Atlantic ocean a few weeks ago... I think we should shut that down. Actually if I think about it the should have shut it down after the sinking of the Titanic... heads should roll for this!!!!

[rkmsuf]

Ah - ha! They got Canada now!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boy drowns in theme park wave pool
(Sunday, August 7, 2005) - A 12-year-old boy drowned in a wave pool at the Magic Mountain water park in New Brunswick, Canada. He was found floating in the park's wave pool. Lifeguards pulled his body from the water, but were unable to revive him. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead several hours later.

[Joe Canadian]

Ah - ha! They got Canada now!

And I'm part of it!!

[rkmsuf]

And I'm part of it!!

Stay out of the wave pool dude.

[Ksyrup]

Ah - ha! They got Canada now!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boy drowns in theme park wave pool
(Sunday, August 7, 2005) - A 12-year-old boy drowned in a wave pool at the Magic Mountain water park in New Brunswick, Canada. He was found floating in the park's wave pool. Lifeguards pulled his body from the water, but were unable to revive him. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead several hours later.
Canada in August...hmmm....I'm going on record as predicting he got bumped on the head by an iceberg.

[Ksyrup]

They need a study to figure this shit out? No one made this link before, they just threw it on the warning signs for shits and giggles?




Roller coasters raise risk in heart patients: study <!-- END HEADLINE -->
<!-- BEGIN STORY BODY -->1 hour, 25 minutes ago



Keep your hands inside the cars may not be enough warning for people with heart disease who want to ride roller coasters, a new study presented on Wednesday found.

"The rising heart rate in riders with pre-existing heart disease could result in heart attack, irregular heart rhythms and possibly sudden cardiac death," said Dr Jurgen Kuschyk, who presented the findings of his study at the American Heart Association's annual scientific sessions.

The German study of 37 men and 18 women volunteers with no heart disease and average age of 28 found heart rates increased dramatically both during and after the ride to an extent that could cause arrhythmias, or a dangerous irregular heart beat, in some people.

Forty-four percent of the participants had marked heart rhythm irregularities that lasted up to five minutes after their ride on the Expedition GeForce roller coaster at Holiday Park in Hassioch, Germany, researchers said.

People with high blood pressure, a previous heart attack, an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator and those with heart disease should not ride roller coasters, the researchers said.

Kuschyk, a cardiologist from University Hospital in Mannheim, Germany, suggested that roller coaster operators keep a defibrillator on hand.

"A lot of people don't know they have heart disease, yet they are riding roller coasters," he said.

[rkmsuf]

The Germans know what the f*ck they are doing.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, they know what everyone else knew decades ago, it seems.

[sterlingice]

Uh, I'm pretty sure that every roller coast I've ridden has a "people with heart conditions should not be within a mile of this aparatus" type sign.

SI

[Ksyrup]

Uh, I'm pretty sure that every roller coast I've ridden has a "people with heart conditions should not be within a mile of this aparatus" type sign.

SI
Shhh! Don't tell the Germans!

[rkmsuf]

Shhh! Don't tell the Germans!


Ah, but now they have proof!

[sterlingice]

Horst: {threatingly} We Germans aren't all smiles und sunshine.
Burns: {recoils in mock horror} Oooh, the Germans are mad at me. I'm so scared! Oooh, the Germans! {hiding behind Smithers} Uh oh, the Germans are going to get me!
Horst: Stop it!
Man 2: Stop, sir.
Burns: Don't let the Germans come after me. Oh no, the Germans are coming after me.
Man 2: Please stop the `pretending you are scared' game, please.
Horst: Stop it! Stop it!
Burns: {brief pause, then resumes} No! They're so big and strong!
Man 2: Stop it.
Horst: Stop it, Mr. Burns.
Man 2: Please stop pretending you are scared of us, please, now.
Burns: Oh, protect me from the Germans! The Germans...
Horst: Burns, STOP IT!

SI

[Joe Canadian]

Turkish: Well the rabbit gets fucked.
Tommy: [pauses] Proper fucked?
Turkish: Yes, before "Zee Germans" get there.

[Ksyrup]

Ah, but now they have proof!
If Hasselhoff had a heart condition, the Germans would've been all over this shit much earlier.

[rkmsuf]

If Hasselhoff had a heart condition, the Germans would've been all over this shit much earlier.


True. Just the mere distraction of Hasseloff has set the German research back decades. He commands a tremedous amount of resources over there.

[wade moore]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/29/coaster.death/index.html


MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- A 12-year-old boy died on a roller coaster at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Disney could not be reached for comment, and few details were available.
The boy was unresponsive in his seat at the end of the Rock 'N' Roller coaster ride, said Terry McElroy of the Florida Department of Agriculture, which regulates the industry.
The boy was given CPR and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities don't know at this time if he was riding by himself or with family members.
The incident occurred at 11:30 a.m. Disney reported the accident to Florida police at 1 p.m.
Disney shut down the ride and an inspector was on site to observe the Disney investigation. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation as well.
Disney boasts of the ride on its Web site, "Zoom from 0-60 mph with the force of a supersonic F-14, take in high-speed loops and turns synchronized to a specially recorded Aerosmith soundtrack and zip through Tinseltown in the biggest, loudest limo you've ever seen."
One month ago, another child died on the Disney ride "Mission Space" at the Epcot Center.

I hadn't seen the one on "Mission Space" from a month ago...

[rkmsuf]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/29/coaster.death/index.html



I hadn't seen the one on "Mission Space" from a month ago...

preach on brotha. Yeah, everyone is cut out for the experience of an F-14.

[Young Drachma]

I predict it will turn out this kid had a not-yet diagnosed heart issue.

First thing I thought after I read the article.

[Marc Vaughan]

Simple, don't design a ride where there is a chance of DEATH because of the ride.

Of course people keel over but I'm talking about as a result of G forces or something like that.

I really think these "engineers" are pushing the limits of reasonable entertainment. This isn't an isolated incident.

So all rides consist of sitting on the ground for a 40 second time period while nothing happens, although wait that might cause slight loss of blood circulation to some people and perhaps invoke a medical reaction ...

(simply put 'shit happens' unfortunately - its sad, but life is full of risks ..)

[rkmsuf]

So all rides consist of sitting on the ground for a 40 second time period while nothing happens, although wait that might cause slight loss of blood circulation to some people and perhaps invoke a medical reaction ...

(simply put 'shit happens' unfortunately - its sad, but life is full of risks ..)

So you are saying that forces akin to that of a supersonic jet or rocket launch are perfectly acceptable to offer to the general public as long as the fatality rate is like .5% or something. And they post a bunch of signs.

[DanGarion]

So you are saying that forces akin to that of a supersonic jet or rocket launch are perfectly acceptable to offer to the general public as long as the fatality rate is like .5% or something.
I'd probably say the fatality rate is moreso around in the 1 in the millions. In fact I bet someone is less likely to die on a ride then they are to die in a car accident. I mean it's not like the human body is really made to be traveling a speeds of 40-50 miles an hour...

[Mustang]

So you are saying that forces akin to that of a supersonic jet or rocket launch are perfectly acceptable to offer to the general public as long as the fatality rate is like .5% or something. And they post a bunch of signs.

.5 would be a pretty damn high fatality rate and would be unacceptable since 1 out of 200 would drop dead and you would probably kill 25 a day and the ride would be called 'Baghdad Boom' or something like that..

[DanGarion]

Chance/probability of death from various causes for an average American in a given year.
Cause of death Probability
Aids/HIV infection 1 in 19,000
Airplane Crash 1 in 2,736,000
Alcoholic Liver Disease 1 in 22,000
Car Crash 1 in 6357
Earthquake 0 to 1 in 40,000,000
Falls 1 in 20,688
Flood 1 in 6,700,000
Food Poisoning 1 in 53,000
Heart disease 1 in 387
Homicide 1 in 16439
Suicide 1 in 9350

[sabotai]

"said Terry McElroy of the Florida Department of Agriculture, which regulates the industry."

Am I the only one that finds this odd?

[FrogMan]

"said Terry McElroy of the Florida Department of Agriculture, which regulates the industry."

Am I the only one that finds this odd?

fwiw, I found that very odd too.

FM

[SuperGrover]

It doesn't look like Disney did anything wrong here and sometimes accidents do happen. Try being the engineer- how do you design for the one fluke death while millions of people have ridden this ride without any incident? Do you not use scissors because there's a chance you could somehow injure yourself when using them?

Wow. I would expect the jury in the civil suit feels much differently.

[Marc Vaughan]

So you are saying that forces akin to that of a supersonic jet or rocket launch are perfectly acceptable to offer to the general public as long as the fatality rate is like .5% or something. And they post a bunch of signs.

Not at all - however please bear in mind that contrary to the rates you're giving no ride in any park has a .5% fatality rate, that'd be a huge risk in anyones terms.

I'd also like to point out that just because a ride indicates its 'like a supersonic jet or rocket launch' it very probably isn't at all, just for the reasons you indicate (ie. bodies not being able to handle the stress unless they're trained for it).

The rides you're talking about make people 'feel' like they're in a 'rocket launch' which is something entirely different - the differences between a 'simulation' and 'reality' really.

You can make people 'feel' like they've been in a rocket launch with minimal stresses and suchlike, just by giving a 'realistic' setting and conditions and letting their imagination do the rest*.

*There was a reality TV show in England along these lines a year or two ago, where 'contestants' thought they were being flown up to the russian space station ... didn't watch it myself but thought the idea intruiging.

[WSUCougar]

My son's 4 and I wouldn't even think about putting him on that ride, height requirement or not.

[rkmsuf]

O-Qua Tangin Wann...

--------------------------------------------------------------------



27 hurt in Ohio roller coaster mishap



Page 1 of 1

The Associated Press

Monday, July 10, 2006 03:16 am GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) -- A malfunction on an amusement park ride Sunday sent 27 people to hospitals, most with minor chest and neck injuries, a park official said.

The accident happened on the Son of Beast roller coaster at Paramount's Kings Island just northeast of Cincinnati. WCPO-TV reported that witnesses saw the roller coaster come to an abrupt stop about 4:45 p.m.

Riders complained of discomfort after the coaster completed a circuit and pulled back into the boarding area, said Maureen Kaiser, a spokeswoman for the park.

Twenty-seven people were injured, Kaiser said. Seventeen had been released from hospitals within five hours of the accident and one had been admitted with injuries that weren't life-threatening, she said.

She did not know specifics about the others but said the injuries weren't life-threatening.

Park officials shut down the ride and were examining it, Kaiser said. The park's Web site describes the roller coaster as "the tallest, fastest and only looping wooden coaster on the planet," with riders descending a 214-foot hill at more than 78 mph. The coaster, more than 7,000 feet long, features a 118-foot tall loop.

http://www.wired.com/wireservice/story.php?nosubnav=true&section=Breaking&storyId=1545525

[Suburban Rhythm]

More Disney fun! Same ride...but technically not 'Death on Disney Ride'

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060711/ap_on_re_us/disney_injury
A woman lost consciousness while getting off a Walt Disney World ride, which two people have died on in the past 13 months, authorities said.

The 35-year-old woman was getting off "Mission: Space" when she fell about 8:30 p.m. Monday, Deputy Chief Bo Jones of the Reedy Creek Fire Department told the Orlando Sentinel

[JonInMiddleGA]

More Disney fun! Same ride...

Odds are, the woman who just passed out is in about as sterling a physical condition as I am ... which is to say not at all.

The tingling sensation, feeling wobbly afterwards, etc. are very familiar to me, difference is that she passed out whereas I haven't (yet).

I don't enjoy the blasted ride personally, I'd much rather put it in the category of "been there, done that, no desire to do it again", but it's one of the rides that are part of my parental chore list (as my wife covers those involving heights).

Meanwhile, my 8 year old rides it with glee & without any ill effects.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Odds are, the woman who just passed out is in about as sterling a physical condition as I am ... which is to say not at all.


I imagine this will not stop her from suing though...

[sabotai]

Damn....

I better get down there soon and ride it before they are forced to shut it down.

[rkmsuf]

14-Year-Old Dies at Disneyland ParisThe Associated Press


PARIS - French police are investigating the death of a 14-year-old Spanish girl who lost consciousness while riding a roller coaster at Disneyland Paris, park officials said Tuesday.

The cause of the girl's death remained unclear. A preliminary inspection of the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster ride found no malfunctions with the machinery, Disneyland spokesman Pieter Boterman said.

The girl boarded the ride Monday at the theme park in Marne-la-Vallee east of the French capital, and when the ride stopped, her friends found her unconscious, Boterman said.

Medical teams at the theme park tried to revive her, but by the time the ambulance arrived, the girl had died, he said.

Police opened an investigation, and an autopsy was planned for Tuesday, he said.

Disneyland authorities immediately shut down the ride, and it remained closed Tuesday. Boterman said the park was waiting to hear the cause of the girl's death before determining whether to reopen it.

The ride is at Walt Disney Studios Park, one of two theme parks at Disneyland Resort Paris. The complex, which opened in 1992, was formerly called Euro Disney.

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation_world/20070626_ap_14yearolddiesatdisneylandparis.html

[Ksyrup]

Keep up the crusade, man!

[rkmsuf]

Keep up the crusade, man!

Power to the people!

[RendeR]

Quite frankly, IMO, if you step foot on those rides you should pretty much forgoe the right to sue. If you don't KNOW that there is a chance of severe injury or death while riding a thrill ride then you're a complete idiot and should be removed from the gene pool.

Power to the rides, crank 'em up!

[gstelmack]

Autopsy shows boy died at Disney from heart condition

Associated Press
<!-- begin body-content -->

ORLANDO, Fla. - The death of a 4-year-old boy after he went on a rocket-ship ride at Walt Disney World was caused by abnormal cardiac rhythms from a heart condition that he apparently had since birth, according to an autopsy released Tuesday.

Daudi Bamuwamye died after riding "Mission: Space" in June. He had an abnormality of the heart muscle called idiopathic myocardial hypertrophy, with fibroelastosis of the left ventricle, the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office said.

"People with this condition are at risk for sudden death throughout their life due to abnormal electrical heart rhythms," the medical examiner's office said. "This risk could be increased under physical or emotional stressful situations. This condition may also eventually lead to heart failure."

The $100 million Epcot ride, one of Disney World's most popular, was closed after the death but reopened after company engineers concluded it was operating normally.

"Mission: Space" spins riders in a giant centrifuge that subjects them to twice the normal force of gravity, and it is so intense that some riders have been taken to the hospital with chest pain.

<!-- end body-content -->

Time to repost this one just to remind everyone (well, okay, to remind rkmsuf, but anyway...)

[gstelmack]

Has anyone done a study yet of how many people die while driving to these parks in accidents compared to the number that actually die at the park?

Just got back from Disney World a couple of weeks ago. We had a fantastic time yet again. Can't wait to go back in 2 years or so.

[rkmsuf]

Has anyone done a study yet of how many people die while driving to these parks in accidents compared to the number that actually die at the park?

Just got back from Disney World a couple of weeks ago. We had a fantastic time yet again. Can't wait to go back in 2 years or so.

nice almost knowing you

[Butter]

Just got back from Disney World a couple of months ago. We had a fantastic time yet again. Can't wait to go back in 2 years or so.

Fixed for me.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Headed back to Disney World in a few weeks. 18th trip (IIRC) in the past 7 years or so.

And fixed for me.

[rkmsuf]

In Japan they just stopped reporting them alltogether.

------------------------------------------------------

http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=1007315

JAPAN NEWS
3 amusement park accidents unpublicized last year
Thursday, May 10, 2007




TOKYO — Two accidents causing injury at Osaka's Expoland amusement park last year went unreported to the central government while one serious injury at another park in Aichi Prefecture remained unannounced, local government officials said Wednesday. The revelations follow a fatal roller coaster derailment last week at Expoland in the city of Suita, Osaka Prefecture, in which a 19-year-old woman was killed and 19 others were injured after the park operator decided to put off a regular checkup of the coaster until mid-May.



In other accidents at Expoland, a visitor tore ligaments in May last year by twisting a leg in coming off a rotary trapeze, and another visitor was taken to a hospital in December after the visitor's neck got caught in the safety bar of a different piece of rotary equipment, Osaka prefectural officials said. At Lagunasia theme park in the city of Gamagori in Aichi, meanwhile, a mentally-handicapped woman in her 20s suffered a serious injury to her left leg last November aboard the Aqua Wind roller coaster, according to the park operator Gamagori Marine Development Co.


---- KN Staff Reporter.

[rkmsuf]

ouch, now this has to hurt.

------------------------------------------------------

Girl scalped in go-kart mishap
(Friday, October 20, 2006) - A 12-year-old girl was completely scalped when her ponytail got caught in the drive belt of a go-kart engine at Niagara Go-Karts and Mini Putt in Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada

[Ksyrup]

I'm with you all the way on this - fuck putt-putt.

[hhiipp]

Alert to all - do not leave your home in search of a good time you will be injured or die!

[rkmsuf]

Alert to all - do not leave your home in search of a good time you will be injured or die!

Go stick your ponytail in a go kart. I triple dog dare you!

[Pumpy Tudors]

Go stick your ponytail in a go kart. I triple dog dare you!
Yeah, look out for those hhiippppiieess and their ponytails!!

[MikeVic]

The last few posts have made me laugh out loud at work. Nice job guys.

[Ksyrup]

We need more library nudity and pissing stories and less amusement park horror stories, please.

When's the last time you updated the library nudist thread?

[rkmsuf]

We need more library nudity and pissing stories and less amusement park horror stories, please.

When's the last time you updated the library nudist thread?

point me to some library nudity(attractive female) and I'll update the crap out of it

I check daily for Naked Zorro updates though.

[Ksyrup]

This place is smurfie's personal house of horror:



<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 20px" vAlign=top width="99%">Woman Killed at N.Y. Thrill Park Ride</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- headline end --><!-- date/author start --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="99%">Jun 30 09:14 AM US/Eastern
By JENNIFER PELTZ
Associated Press Writer
</TD><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 5px" vAlign=bottom align=right><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: #bababa 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #bababa 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #bababa 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #bababa 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #edf0f4" height=33 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=1 border=0></TR><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"></TD><TD background=images/article/dots.gif>http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"></TD><TD background=images/article/dots.gif>http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"><SCRIPT>try { insert_digg_btn('world_news'); } catch(e){}</SCRIPT></TD><TD background=images/article/dots.gif>http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- date/author end --><!-- article start --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 14px" vAlign=top width="99%">NEW YORK (AP) - Investigators were re-examining a gyrating ride at a historic amusement park (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=) after a young woman died in the second fatal accident in less than four years, the fourth death at the park in that span.

The woman was killed Friday night on the Mind Scrambler at Playland Amusement Park in Rye (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=), N.Y., just north of New York City (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=), Westchester County Police spokesman Kieran O'Leary said.

Emergency workers responded quickly, "but there wasn't very much anybody could do for her," O'Leary said. The woman, who was in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene around 9:30 p.m., he said.

Police were investigating early Saturday and released few details about the accident. The woman's name was not released because her family had not been notified.

The indoor attraction spins riders around in a darkened tent with flashing lights. It was the scene of another deadly accident May 22, Stephanie Dieudonne, 7, wriggled free of the restraining bar on one of the cars, knelt on the seat and fell soon after the ride started, according to investigators.

The amusement park was not cited for any violations or required to make improvements to the ride after the girl's death, but officials announced plans to add seat belts (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=), more lighting and a second attendant.

In 2005, a 7-year-old boy was killed when he climbed out of his boat ride and fell, investigators said. A 43-year-old man drowned after wading into a lake on July 4, 2006 at the county-owned Playland, a National Historic Landmark (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=) that opened in 1928.

The park's director and a spokesman for the county Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation, which oversees Playland, did not immediately return telephone messages left at their offices late Friday.
The Mind Scrambler and a nearby section of the amusement park were closed after the accident Friday, but other areas remained open, O'Leary said.

Playland is on Long Island Sound (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=), about 25 miles north of midtown Manhattan. Featuring more than 50 rides, a pool and a beach, it draws more than 1 million visitors a year.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[gstelmack]

So two kids climbed out of their seats (where were the parents with them?), and one guy wandered into a lake all on his own? I don't see what the park did wrong in any of those cases.

We'll see what happened with the 20-year-old.

[sterlingice]

So two kids climbed out of their seats (where were the parents with them?), and one guy wandered into a lake all on his own? I don't see what the park did wrong in any of those cases.

We'll see what happened with the 20-year-old.

What he said. Why is the park liable for other's stupidity. Did the ride have harnesses? Yes. Did they malfunction? No. Was it solely because of the actions of the victims that they died? Yes. So how is the park at fault?

SI

[larrymcg421]

All these news articles do is make these sound like kickass rides. I'm putting them all on my To Do list.

Also, I live in downtown Atlanta. I have to constantly drive on I-285, I-75, I-85, GA 400 (I-20 if I want to get to Six Flags). This is much more dangerous than any ride you could put in a fucking amusement park.

[gstelmack]

Update to the story above. Communication screwup between two workers killed one of them. It was not a passenger on the ride.


NEW YORK (AP) -- An amusement park worker was thrown off a gyrating ride and killed, and park officials acknowledged Saturday that a safety precaution put in place after a fatal accident on the ride in 2004 wasn't followed.

Gabriela Garin, 21, of White Plains, New York, was killed Friday night after fastening some late-arriving riders into their seats on the Mind Scrambler, the same ride where a 7-year-old girl was killed three years ago at the landmark Playland Amusement Park in Rye. The ride was immediately shut down for the rest of the summer.

It was the fourth fatality at the park in just over three years.

Garin was operating the ride, a spider-arm-style attraction that spins riders around in two-seat cars, park spokesman Peter Tartaglia said. She had changed shifts with a new ride operator but stayed to take on a few new passengers before leaving for the night, he said.

The woman told the operator she would fasten the last riders into the car, and the new operator, whose name wasn't immediately available, stepped into a booth and started the ride, Tartaglia said.

He looked up, noticed Garin still on the ride and shut it down 15 to 20 seconds after it began, Tartaglia said. But Garin, who started working at the park when she was 14, already had been thrown from it, he said.

[Ksyrup]

I'm doing your job for you, smurfie...


Beach amusement park ride leaves teenage girl hospitalized
July 02. 2007 11:53AM

A 13-year-old girl remained in intensive care Monday after she hit her head on a spinning ride at a children's amusement park last week.

Natashia West was injured Thursday on the Magic Teacup ride at Boomers. She is now heavily sedated at Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital in Hollywood, and most of her injuries are on the front of her head, said Donnie Jackson, her father.

The Tamarac girl has a sensor sticking out of her head to monitor pressure in her skull. She cannot talk, but was taken off a respirator Sunday, Jackson said.

"All I want is for her to be the same little girl she was," he said.

The ride carries passengers inside round cups. At the center of each cup is a wheel riders can turn to control how fast it spins.

"You don't expect your child to be put on a ride one minute, and the next minute she's trauma-alerted," Jackson said.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspected the ride Friday and found no mechanical problems, agency spokesman Terence McElroy said.

The department has not concluded its investigation, but expects to release a report later this week. The ride was cleared by the department to open, but remained closed Monday, McElroy said. A routine inspection by the department in April also found the ride to have no mechanical problems.

Palace Entertainment, the California company that owns Boomers, said it is meeting with the teacup's manufacturer and studying the ride. It has been at the Dania Beach Boomers since April 2006, but the company has used it at other locations since the 1990s.

"We've given hundreds of thousands of rides and we've never had a problem," said Brett Petit, a Palace Entertainment spokesman.

"Safety is the most important thing," Petit said. "And we will do all we can to help the girl."

[rkmsuf]

They got the Teacups man!

[BrianD]

It would be nice if the report included some kind of indication of what her head hit. If this ride is anything like the Disney teacup ride, I can't imagine any way a person could hit the front of their head. Without any additional information, my first thought is to figure out how the victim was goofing around and not how the park must have done something wrong.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

It would be nice if the report included some kind of indication of what her head hit. If this ride is anything like the Disney teacup ride, I can't imagine any way a person could hit the front of their head. Without any additional information, my first thought is to figure out how the victim was goofing around and not how the park must have done something wrong.

I'm one of those people that gets dizzy on those spinning rides. My wife loves to fling the thing around wildly. I'm not down with that, so I get in a separate teacup. She gets her cup spinning around, while I slowly turn my cup so that I'm always facing the same way to avoid any nausea. I know........party pooper.

[Ksyrup]

I'm wondering whether she fell forward and hit the steering wheel. Whether she was goofing around, or lost her balance, or got dizzy...who knows.

[BrianD]

I'm one of those people that gets dizzy on those spinning rides. My wife loves to fling the thing around wildly. I'm not down with that, so I get in a separate teacup. She gets her cup spinning around, while I slowly turn my cup so that I'm always facing the same way to avoid any nausea. I know........party pooper.

Have you ever tried splitting the difference and just stare at her while she flings it around? I've found that reduces the dizzy feeling...though depending on the person, that may not help enough.

[BrianD]

I'm wondering whether she fell forward and hit the steering wheel. Whether she was goofing around, or lost her balance, or got dizzy...who knows.

I was thinking about those too, but wouldn't it be hard to fall to the middle of a spinning ride? If anything a person should fall to the outside. Same thing with losing the balance after leaving the ride. After getting dizzy, a person generally falls sideways, not forwards. That is why I would love more details.

[rkmsuf]

I'm one of those people that gets dizzy on those spinning rides. My wife loves to fling the thing around wildly. I'm not down with that, so I get in a separate teacup. She gets her cup spinning around, while I slowly turn my cup so that I'm always facing the same way to avoid any nausea. I know........party pooper.

turn in your mancard

lol, separate cups.

lol, you ride the teacups

I take back the lol if you are bringing your kids on.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Have you ever tried splitting the difference and just stare at her while she flings it around? I've found that reduces the dizzy feeling...though depending on the person, that may not help enough.

Yes, I tried that. I gave a couple of dry heaves while I was exiting the ride. Thankfully nothing came out, but I saw the fear in the ride operator's eyes. He was pretty sure he was about to have clean-up duty.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

turn in your mancard

lol, separate cups.

lol, you ride the teacups

I take back the lol if you are bringing your kids on.

My only daughter is 4 months old. The interesting part will be whether my daughter rides with me or my wife when we take her to Disney at some point in the future.

[rkmsuf]

ok, lol then.

[BrianD]

Yes, I tried that. I gave a couple of dry heaves while I was exiting the ride. Thankfully nothing came out, but I saw the fear in the ride operator's eyes. He was pretty sure he was about to have clean-up duty.

Well then, I guess your riding plan is the right one for you. It was worth a try at least.

As far as turning in your man card...the teacups rock. It is one of the few rides you can control and actively try to throw your riding partner out of the ride without touching them.

[Butter]

My wife did not like me turning the teacup around and around, and encouraging the kids to help me. I reversed direction a couple of times too, so I'm sure that didn't help.

[rkmsuf]

Well then, I guess your riding plan is the right one for you. It was worth a try at least.

As far as turning in your man card...the teacups rock. It is one of the few rides you can control and actively try to throw your riding partner out of the ride without touching them.

The Tilt a Whirl is far more manly.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The Tilt a Whirl is far more manly.

Now I DID yak on that thing. Some high school kid had a lot of chunks of corn dog to clean up that day.

[rkmsuf]

Now I DID yak on that thing. Some high school kid had a lot of chunks of corn dog to clean up that day.

wtf

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

wtf

Centrifugal force is an amazing thing to behold.

[rkmsuf]

Centrifugal force is an amazing thing to behold.

to your stomach

stay off the carousel. barfing will disappoint the kids.

[vex]

Police Investigating Teen's Death on Festival Ride

Monday, July 16, 2007
http://www.foxnews.com/images/service_ap_36.gif
E-MAIL STORY (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289442,00.html#)
PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION (http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,289442,00.html)
OSHKOSH, Wis — Police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (javascript:siteSearch('Occupational Safety and Health Administration');) were investigating Sunday why a teen fell from a festival ride and died.
Elizabeth K. Mohl (javascript:siteSearch('Elizabeth K. Mohl');), 16, of Neenah (javascript:siteSearch('Neenah');), was killed Saturday afternoon after falling 40 to 50 feet from a ride called Air Glory.
Winnebago County Deputy Coroner Chuck Hable said Sunday that a crane would hoist up a person or people in a sling, and at the top the person inside pulls a ripcord. That drops the person or people and they swing back and forth. But for some reason after the cord was pulled, she fell to the ground, he said.
She died several hours later in surgery, Hable said.
Police Sgt. Jim Jewell said Sunday that the department and OSHA were investigating. He wouldn't comment further but said it was too early to say if the matter would be considered criminal.
The girl was attending Lifest, an annual Christian music festival that features rides and sports. Workers shut down the ride after the accident, which occurred about 4:45 p.m.

A prayer service was held at 7 p.m. and the music festival resumed about 7:30 p.m.
Air Glory makes "grown men scream like little girls," according to the Lifest Web site, which says the ride begins by launching two to three people almost 100 feet in the air.
Witness Brian Childers of Kenosha said two people went up in the ride, and when they pulled the release he heard a snapping sound. One person fell and the other remained swinging in the ride, he told the Oshkosh Northwestern.
An autopsy was scheduled for Monday, but Hable said Mohl likely died from the fall.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289442,00.html

[rkmsuf]

Air Glory indeed.

[mauchow]

This has been a big story around here lately... obviously.

[Capital]

Those type of rides appear to be everywhere right now and have always scared me that this could, and eventually would, happen.

[vex]

<TABLE id=common_center_content cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align=left>Boy Decapitated at Six Flags Amusement Park </TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align=left></TD></TR><TR><TD class=story_date_label style="PADDING-TOP: 5px">Last Edited: Saturday, 28 Jun 2008, 4:33 PM EDT </TD></TR><TR><TD class=story_date_label>Created: Saturday, 28 Jun 2008, 4:01 PM EDT </TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 5px"><!-- Begin Image displayed --><!-- The extra outer div and img element will trigger reflow in FF --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=story_image>http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/photo_servlet?contentId=6871390&version=1&locale=EN-US&subtype=MIMG&siteId=1012&isP16=true</TD></TR><CAPTION class=story_image_caption align=bottom>Six Flags Over Georgia</CAPTION></TABLE>
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COBB COUNTY, Ga. (MyFox Atlanta) – Investigators with Cobb County police said a boy was decapitated at Six Flags amusement park Saturday.

Authorities said the incident happened just after 2:00 p.m. Saturday. A church group went to the amusement park and a group of boys with the group jumped a fence and entered an area that was marked off limits.

One of the boys jumped up and tried to grab someone's feet who was on the Batman ride. The boy ended up being decapitated.

Investigators did not release the boy's age, name or the name of the church the boy was traveling with.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6871329&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

[gstelmack]

Okay, try to spin THAT one as the park's fault...

[Lathum]

I wonder how old he was?

It's sad but no one to blame but himself

[larrymcg421]

That is actually the 2nd time someone has been decapitated by that ride. I'm not blaming the park, because it wasn't their fault either time, but maybe now it's time to put up some huge ass signs in that area saying YOU CAN BE DECAPITATED IF YOU PROCEED.

[Suburban Rhythm]

A church group went to the amusement park and a group of boys with the group jumped a fence and entered an area that was marked off limits.


but maybe now it's time to put up some huge ass signs in that area saying YOU CAN BE DECAPITATED IF YOU PROCEED.

It's marked off limits. There is probably a pretty good reason why. Probably shouldn't have to spell it out.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I wonder how old he was?

17

[Lathum]

17

in that case I don't feel bad for him at all.

Darwinism at work

[TCY Junkie]

It's marked off limits. There is probably a pretty good reason why. Probably shouldn't have to spell it out.
You would be surprised by how much help some people need.

[Easy Mac]

I want to be at the church for the sermon tomorrow

[Schmidty]

in that case I don't feel bad for him at all.

Darwinism at work

That's a dickish thing to say.

He made a mistake that a lot of other teens would have made, so he deserves to die? I guess that's easy for you to say when you don't know the kid or his family. I'm sure if you were standing in front of the kid's mom, you wouldn't say something so ignorant.

[Schmidty]

That's a dickish thing to say.

He made a mistake that a lot of other teens would have made, so he deserves to die? I guess that's easy for you to say when you don't know the kid or his family. I'm sure if you were standing in front of the kid's mom, you would say something so ignorant.

By the way, I'm not trying to pick on you, or call you a bad person, I just hate when people make statements like the one you did.

[Greyroofoo]

That's a dickish thing to say.

He made a mistake that a lot of other teens would have made, so he deserves to die? I guess that's easy for you to say when you don't know the kid or his family. I'm sure if you were standing in front of the kid's mom, you wouldn't say something so ignorant.

I'm guessing most teens don't make the mistake of being decapitated by the Batman Ride

[wbatl1]

Boy killed at Six Flags Over Georgia


By RHONDA COOK, MARCUS GARNER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/28/08

A 17-year-old boy was killed Saturday when he was struck by the popular Batman ride at Six Flags Over Georgia. It was the second Batman ride-related death at the Cobb County park.

According to the police and a statement from the amusement park, the boy, who was not identified, and a friend climbed over two 6-foot fences to get to the Batman roller coaster -- the park perimeter fence and a second one around the ride.


ALLEN SULLIVAN / [email protected]
People board a MARTA bus at Six Flags Over Georgia.

RELATED LINKS:
• More photos

• More Cobb news
• More Metro news
• Metro photo galleries



The boy was decapitated when he was struck by the ride, police said.

Batman riders dangle beneath a track and travel up to 50 m.p.h., climbing and dropping the distance equal to an 11-story building and going through two vertical loops and two single corkscrews.

No one on the ride was injured, Six Flags said in the statement.

The boy's family was at the park at the time of the accident, according to the amusement park.

"We do not know why this person was intent on gaining access to this restricted area, as multiple signs clearly state: Danger Zone/Do Not Enter/Authorized Personnel Only," said a statement from park spokeswoman Hela Sheth.

"Some witnesses have stated that the individual was trying to retrieve something he had lost," Sheth said. "Others reported that he was trying to touch the ride. This is merely speculation at this point, and we are working with park visitors and local police to learn more."

Sheth did not return several telephone messages seeking more detail.

The boy was with a church group from Oakley Springs, S.C. He had been in the park earlier in the day but he and another boy left the park property to get some lunch. Rather than returning to the park through the regular entrance, the two took a shortcut, said Cobb County police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pearce.

"The area's clearly defined with signs," Pearce said. "It's very tragic that these individuals would decide to jump over the fence. It would be hard to imagine somebody not seeing the signs and jumping two fences."

Pearce said there were many witnesses and the county's 911 center was almost immediately flooded with calls from people reporting what they had witnessed.

Pearce said though the ride was closed to park visitors, police asked that it be run so investigators could get measurements.

Except for the Batman ride, the park remained open Saturday evening.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family," the Six Flags statement said.

There was another death connected to the Batman ride six years ago. A 58-year-old park worker, Samuel Milton Guyton of Atlanta, was killed May 26, 2002. Guyton was in a restricted area on a platform when he was kicked in the head by 14-year-old girl on the front car of the ride. She was hospitalized with a leg injury.


The AJC article gives much more information, including the fact that he was returning to the park and decided not to go through the regular entrance and would have had to jump over two fences.

[Julio Riddols]

A kid trying to grab someones feet on a moving ride that travels at a high enough speed to decapitate someone.. I don't see a lot of room for sympathy there. Its sad, the boy was dumb enough to try it and paid the consequences in spades. I feel much worse for the inevitable friend that tried to talk him out of it.

EDIT: If the boy was trying to retrieve something, you'd think he would have just asked one of the ride operators to get it for him.

[Schmidty]

I'm guessing most teens don't make the mistake of being decapitated by the Batman Ride

Point being? I'm sure he didn't know he was going to get decapitated when he went in there.

[JonInMiddleGA]

He made a mistake that a lot of other teens would have made, so he deserves to die?

"Deserves"? Eh. {shrug}

But I can't say I'm all busted up over one less moron to do something moronic in the world.

I'm sure if you were standing in front of the kid's mom, you wouldn't say something so ignorant.

I can't speak for Lathum, but push come to shove, I really can't imagine I'd have much problem telling the mother that the cause of death on her son's certificate should be listed as "Stupidity". I wouldn't go out of my way to tell her that but I wouldn't hesitate to do so if the situation arose & she wanted to make an issue of it.

[Lathum]

That's a dickish thing to say.

He made a mistake that a lot of other teens would have made, so he deserves to die? I guess that's easy for you to say when you don't know the kid or his family. I'm sure if you were standing in front of the kid's mom, you wouldn't say something so ignorant.

I never said he deserves to die so get your fucking story straight .

I said I don't feel bad for him, he is old enough to know right from wrong. How fucking stupid do you have to be to ignore a sign, jump a fence, and leap at a moving roller coaster?

Would you feel bad if he OD'd or killed himself drunk driving?

of course I feel bad for his family but that doesn't deter from the fact that the kid did something amazingly stupid and I don't feel bad for him

[Schmidty]

Edited because Lathum edited. :)

[Lathum]

i editied schmidty, and replied before the other post you made so sorry.

But I still don't feel bad for the kid. I did alot of stupid things when I was 17 but I knew when to draw the line

[Racer]

Considering that he could have probably hurt someone on the ride and that he should have known better, I don't feel bad for him at all. Yeah it sucks for his family.

[Schmidty]

"Deserves"? Eh. {shrug}

But I can't say I'm all busted up over one less moron to do something moronic in the world.



I can't speak for Lathum, but push come to shove, I really can't imagine I'd have much problem telling the mother that the cause of death on her son's certificate should be listed as "Stupidity". I wouldn't go out of my way to tell her that but I wouldn't hesitate to do so if the situation arose & she wanted to make an issue of it.

So here's my question: If you die of lung cancer someday from smoking, should your certificate of death be listed as "Stupidity", since you did something that can also be considered doing "something moronic in the world"? I don't think so, but a lot of people could have that opinion.

Point is: Every single one of us has done (or still does) something stupid in our lives. In your way of thinking, I guess if we accidentally (or slowly and deliberately) die from that stupidity, every one of us should have that label. That doesn't make us any better than that kid, it just makes us luckier.

[Schmidty]

i editied schmidty, and replied before the other post you made so sorry.

But I still don't feel bad for the kid. I did alot of stupid things when I was 17 but I knew when to draw the line

That's alright. I guess I don't word things so well at times, because I didn't mean what I said as a personal attack, but I can see someone taking it like that.

Anyway, off to go bowling with my daughter. I'll make sure I don't stick my head in the ball return. :D

[JonInMiddleGA]

That doesn't make us any better than that kid, it just makes us luckier.

It also makes us "people who didn't die while committing a crime" (albeit in this case most likely a misdemeanor).

I'm sorry Schmidty, but once again we seem to have a case where parents failed to do an adequate job & their kid ends up dead. If they had managed to teach their kid it isn't okay to jump two fences when there's no legitimate reason for it then they aren't burying him this week.

[EagleFan]

Come on Schmidty, you can't be serious here. The kid was doing something extremely stupid. If he hadn't been killed he could have caused serious injury to the person whose legs he was trying to grab. This makes it not only stupid but stupid with intent to injure (he was really stupid if he didn't think he would hurt the person if he succeeded in grabbing their legs).

It's not like he was pulling a harmless prank and got killed by something completely unexpected. What the hell did he think could happen trying that?

I agree, darwinism at work. I do feel sorry for the family though but not for the kid himself.

I really hope the friend referred to earlier was one who was saying "don't do it" and not one saying "go for it" and prodding him into it. If so that kid is living his own version of hell right now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I really hope the friend referred to earlier was one who was saying "don't do it" and not one saying "go for it" and prodding him into it.

Feel free to "hope" on that point, but I wouldn't advise putting any money on it.

This just seems like a classic example of the joke about the most common last words of a redneck being "Hey ya'll, watch this". And in those cases there usually aren't too many voices of reason around.

[Easy Mac]

They should have gone to Carowinds, its a shorter distance

[JediKooter]

Sometimes stupidity gets you killed. Sad, but, shit happens.

[Jas_lov]

Getting decapitated by an amusement park ride is a tough way to go, but he brought it on himself so I don't feel bad for him either. He's 17 and should know better than that. He could have really injured someone on the ride and that would have been tragic.

[BrianD]

While I wouldn't say it to the mother, listing "stupidity" as the cause of death seems reasonable. I wouldn't invoke Darwin though because kids this age can be this stupid. Many of us probably have stories of things we did which, looking back, were probably stupid enough to get us killed. The tragedy of the situation doesn't make it any less stupid. Sadly not everyone gets off with a warning when they are dumb.

[Grammaticus]

Yep, definately culling the herd.

The sad part is the family will probably get millions in a settlement with the park. Now that sucks. You shouldn't hit the lotto just because you have an idiot in your family.

[Lathum]

Yep, definately culling the herd.

The sad part is the family will probably get millions in a settlement with the park. Now that sucks. You shouldn't hit the lotto just because you have an idiot in your family.

I seriously doubt the family gets a dime

[DanGarion]

That is actually the 2nd time someone has been decapitated by that ride. I'm not blaming the park, because it wasn't their fault either time, but maybe now it's time to put up some huge ass signs in that area saying YOU CAN BE DECAPITATED IF YOU PROCEED.

I'm pretty sure Six Flags Magic Mountain here in LA has signs that are pretty close to that for this exact ride.

[DanGarion]

He made a mistake that a lot of other teens would have made

WHA???? A lot of others would have made? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[larrymcg421]

It's marked off limits. There is probably a pretty good reason why. Probably shouldn't have to spell it out.

Ideally you shouldn't have to spell it out, but now two people have been killed by that ride in similar fashion. I'm sure Six Flags would like people to stop being killed by that ride, whether or not theyre stupid, so I'm saying extra warning signs would be a good idea.

[molson]

I seriously doubt the family gets a dime

The park would have more a case against the kid if the ride got damaged. Of course, that wouldn't be worth the PR even if there was money there.

[molson]

Ideally you shouldn't have to spell it out, but now two people have been killed by that ride in similar fashion. I'm sure Six Flags would like people to stop being killed by that ride, whether or not theyre stupid, so I'm saying extra warning signs would be a good idea.

It's not just the signs, the kid scaled TWO six-foot high fences for the privilege of having his head lopped off.

I wonder what the ride was like for the rest of the people in the coaster, assuming they saw what happened....They see this severed head, and still probably have to go through whatever spins and loops the ride had in front of it. Good times.

[Lathum]

Ideally you shouldn't have to spell it out, but now two people have been killed by that ride in similar fashion. I'm sure Six Flags would like people to stop being killed by that ride, whether or not theyre stupid, so I'm saying extra warning signs would be a good idea.

I don't think extra signs would make any difference at all. If the kid is gonna go to the effort of jumping 2 fences how many extra signs are needed to deter him?

[Lathum]

dola- jumping the fences into a rstricted area isn't even the stupid thing, at worst they get kicked out of the park for tresspassing.

It's jumping at a moving roller coaster that is idiotic. Notice how the other kid who jumped the fences is still alive

[Axxon]

Point being? I'm sure he didn't know he was going to get decapitated when he went in there.

Point being, to be a Darwin Award Winner you don't have to know you are doing something stupid. You just do something stupid. Look, I feel sorry for his family but the gene pool didn't lose much here. If you're stupid enough to jump two restricted fences and approach a ride going 50 mph and coming at your head even if you survive, something is going to get you soon. It's natures way. He was the sick Gazelle this night.

[Axxon]

Ideally you shouldn't have to spell it out, but now two people have been killed by that ride in similar fashion. I'm sure Six Flags would like people to stop being killed by that ride, whether or not theyre stupid, so I'm saying extra warning signs would be a good idea.

According to the article above the second death wasn't that similar. It was a park worker who was in the wrong restricted area. Any similarity wouldn't have been helped by a sign telling park visitors that they might be decapitated.

[korme]

Got to feel for the other guy. More likely that he was in the do category rather than don't.

[Axxon]

It said the two guys went out of the park to get some lunch. I doubt it very seriously. Most likely they went off park to smoke their lunch. It makes sense. Doesn't really excuse the stupidity of his actions but I'm just saying.

[Shkspr]

I seriously doubt the family gets a dime

Family will get a couple hundred grand. Some lawyer will convince them it was the park's fault, they'll threaten to sue, and the park will offer a settlement to keep the case from going to trial, in the expectation that people will forget the two incidents that have happened on this ride if they aren't reminded of it when the case comes to trial in May 2009.

[JonInMiddleGA]

in the expectation that people will forget the two incidents that have happened on this ride if they aren't reminded of it when the case comes to trial in May 2009.

If you mean potential jurors, why would it matter if they remembered or not? In each case, the "victim" was clearly at fault, and either a jury is going to disregard that fact & hand out undeserved cash or they're going to tell the profiteering plaintiffs to go jump.

If you mean park patrons in general, damned if I imagine this is going to dissuade anyone from going to the park.

[Lathum]

I think I recall seeing somewhere that six flags is denying any liability in the suit where the girl almost lost her legs so they may fight this.

[Axxon]

I think I recall seeing somewhere that six flags is denying any liability in the suit where the girl almost lost her legs so they may fight this.

This case is a slam dunk. The other case is a bit more problematic since it was a park worker who was involved.

[Greyroofoo]

If you mean potential jurors, why would it matter if they remembered or not? In each case, the "victim" was clearly at fault, and either a jury is going to disregard that fact & hand out undeserved cash or they're going to tell the profiteering plaintiffs to go jump.

If you mean park patrons in general, damned if I imagine this is going to dissuade anyone from going to the park.

I think it will dissuade the people who only read the headlines instead of the actual story.

[CU Tiger]

Devil's Advocate/Ass-hole lawyer angle: The ride, by design, swings cars and people on the outside of a track. If the park had invested a modest sum, they could encapsulate the entire flight path of the car with a roll cage type design that would not only have prevented 2 deaths but would also serve to protect riders from the actions of others on the ground. Clearly the park is more concerned about saving a few dollars than protecting its patrons.

I dont believe that POV for a second, Im just saying it will be presented.

That said, it wasnt a bright move, but not necessarily Darwin award stupid either. I can almost see myself at say 15 pulling something similar to get a laugh...

[Greyroofoo]

I call it Darwin stupid.

[Vegas Vic]

Granted, the kid lost his head, but you guys are being pretty tough on him.

[Bad-example]

Granted, the kid lost his head, but you guys are being pretty tough on him.

Someone had to say it. :)

[Shkspr]

If you mean park patrons in general, damned if I imagine this is going to dissuade anyone from going to the park.

I'm skeptical that the headline, "Jury Selection Begins in Theme Park Decapitation Trial", ideally timed at the beginning of theme-park going season, will have no effect on park attendance. At the very least, it'll cost money for the park to offset the publicity with positive spin.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Although there's at least some hope that the family isn't going to try to cash in on their offspring's stupidity ("We're awaiting the results of the investigation. We're going to have someone investigate, too," his father said. "We're not blaming the park." ... the root of the problem is still pretty evident to me.

"He didn't do anything wrong," Ferguson said. "He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

He scaled two fences into a secure area. That's "wrong" whether he gets his fool head knocked off or not. Either this guy is still in denial or his genetic contribution is in part to blame for his son's death.

[molson]

I'm skeptical that the headline, "Jury Selection Begins in Theme Park Decapitation Trial", ideally timed at the beginning of theme-park going season, will have no effect on park attendance. At the very least, it'll cost money for the park to offset the publicity with positive spin.

No way this would ever get to a jury trial even if the kid's family wanted to fight it to the end, the park would win a motion to dismiss.

MAYBE they pay funeral costs or something, no way there's any kind of real settlement here.

[Toddzilla]

Unfortunately, it isn't against the law to be stupid. I'm sure the family lawyer will say that - given the ride had to potential to kill someone if they got underneath of it - the park should have done more to prevent people getting near it than just a climbable fence with a few signs.

In fact, the more I think about it, 6 Flags certainly *should* have done more to restrict access to the part of the ride that's kill-able. Yes, they should take into account that there are stupid people at their park as well as kids who don't obey signs. Seriously, if 6 Flags really didn't want anyone wandering around under the ride, they'd make sure no one could get under there.

[Axxon]

Unfortunately, it isn't against the law to be stupid. I'm sure the family lawyer will say that - given the ride had to potential to kill someone if they got underneath of it - the park should have done more to prevent people getting near it than just a climbable fence with a few signs.

In fact, the more I think about it, 6 Flags certainly *should* have done more to restrict access to the part of the ride that's kill-able. Yes, they should take into account that there are stupid people at their park as well as kids who don't obey signs. Seriously, if 6 Flags really didn't want anyone wandering around under the ride, they'd make sure no one could get under there.

Absolutely.The fences should have been electrified. There definitely needed to be a shark filled moat. Only then, should the visitors have encountered the guard dogs after which they could navigate the mine field. After that, a zone filled with sleeping gas and then a open area with snipers armed with tasers.

Of course, they'd need to have F16's sorties in case someone tried to parachute in to the killing zone and the entire zone would have to have 6 foot thick floors to prevent anyone from tunneling into it.

Anything less just simply is inviting people to ignore the posted warnings and do something stupid.

Oh, and they should tag every customer with a GPS locator so they can track them no matter where they go. No matter the expense, they must do the impossible and idiot proof their rides.

Really, they just shouldn't have rides. You can never tell what the stupid are going to come up with.

Amusement Parks are the lottery of the 2000's.

[Lathum]

Unfortunately, it isn't against the law to be stupid. I'm sure the family lawyer will say that - given the ride had to potential to kill someone if they got underneath of it - the park should have done more to prevent people getting near it than just a climbable fence with a few signs.

In fact, the more I think about it, 6 Flags certainly *should* have done more to restrict access to the part of the ride that's kill-able. Yes, they should take into account that there are stupid people at their park as well as kids who don't obey signs. Seriously, if 6 Flags really didn't want anyone wandering around under the ride, they'd make sure no one could get under there.

gimme a break.

Drive past any 50,000 Volt transformer and it's only protected by a fence and warning signs.

[MJ4H]

dude having an electric fence right next to a moat has to be some sort of safety hazard

[Axxon]

dude having an electric fence right next to a moat has to be some sort of safety hazard

True, we'll swap the mine field with the moat then. That'd make it safe.

[Easy Mac]

dude having an electric fence right next to a moat has to be some sort of safety hazard

its fine as long as you don't whiz on it

[BrianD]

In fact, the more I think about it, 6 Flags certainly *should* have done more to restrict access to the part of the ride that's kill-able. Yes, they should take into account that there are stupid people at their park as well as kids who don't obey signs. Seriously, if 6 Flags really didn't want anyone wandering around under the ride, they'd make sure no one could get under there.

Am I wrong for thinking that a ride traveling that fast should be enough of a warning itself to stay away from it? The fence pretty clearly marks the area of danger so anyone climbing the fence should be on their own.

[Lathum]

Am I wrong for thinking that a ride traveling that fast should be enough of a warning itself to stay away from it? The fence pretty clearly marks the area of danger so anyone climbing the fence should be on their own.

2 fences.

and warning signs.

[BrianD]

2 fences.

and warning signs.

Way more than should be necessary. The extra warnings are fine if the park wants to be extra cautious, but the first fence should be sufficient...if people in this country weren't stupid and overly-litigious.

[Axxon]

2 fences.

and warning signs.

I'm still pushing for the shark filled moat though.

At least we can get that. Hell, put a platform over it and sell tickets. I'd pay.

[sterlingice]

Absolutely.The fences should have been electrified. There definitely needed to be a shark filled moat. Only then, should the visitors have encountered the guard dogs after which they could navigate the mine field. After that, a zone filled with sleeping gas and then a open area with snipers armed with tasers.

Of course, they'd need to have F16's sorties in case someone tried to parachute in to the killing zone and the entire zone would have to have 6 foot thick floors to prevent anyone from tunneling into it.

Anything less just simply is inviting people to ignore the posted warnings and do something stupid.

Oh, and they should tag every customer with a GPS locator so they can track them no matter where they go. No matter the expense, they must do the impossible and idiot proof their rides.

Really, they just shouldn't have rides. You can never tell what the stupid are going to come up with.

Amusement Parks are the lottery of the 2000's.

:withstupid:

SI

[larrymcg421]

You know, as I've said, Six Flags is not at fault here, and they have every reason to believe that the warning signs that were in place and common sense should be enough to deter people. However, I like to ride the Batman ride, and I'd rather not kick someone in the head. I won't feel any better just because it was a stupid person, and neither will my foot. I don't see how it could hurt to make it more difficult to get to that area.

[Lathum]

I don't see how it could hurt to make it more difficult to get to that area.

realisticly what more do you think they should do?

[Axxon]

realisticly what more do you think they should do?

Deep water filled trench

filled with

large, finned fish

maybe.

Just a thought.

[panerd]

If the impact was hard enough to take off his head what happened to the rider's foot? Or was it the ride that hit him in the head. I have to agree with the poster above who said the rest of that ride must of really sucked. So would waiting in line for about an hour to be in the first car, being told the ride is being shut down, getting pissing off about it, and then finding out some asshole lost his head.

[Toddzilla]

realisticly what more do you think they should do?Off the top of my head, build a higher, non/less-climbable fence.

I can see 3 of them from my deck:


a 12-foot high board-on-board fence between my property and the street.
a 10-foot high chain-link fence with barbed-wire circling the retention pond down the road.
a 20-foot high concrete wall that blocks off the sound between the highway and the condo's next to them.


So it's not unheard of, nor impossible. Too expensive? Yep.

[CU Tiger]

Investigating reports that deceased entered area though an open gate.

[Axxon]

a 10-foot high chain-link fence with barbed-wire circling the retention pond down the road.


Is it filled with sharks?

[spleen1015]

Off the top of my head, build a higher, non/less-climbable fence.

I can see 3 of them from my deck:


a 12-foot high board-on-board fence between my property and the street.
a 10-foot high chain-link fence with barbed-wire circling the retention pond down the road.
a 20-foot high concrete wall that blocks off the sound between the highway and the condo's next to them.


So it's not unheard of, nor impossible. Too expensive? Yep.

So, you live in a prison?

[Lathum]

I agree they could have put barbed wire on the top but be real, the kids were gonna jump the fence no matter how high, and like I said earlier, jumping the fence isn't the stupid thing, jumping at a moving roller coaster is why he gets the darwin award.

[bhlloy]

So it's not unheard of, nor impossible. Too expensive? Yep.

Which brings us to the next question. Are people happy to have a $5/$10 hike on ticket prices, so the park can build unclimable walls around every single ride to prevent stupid people killing themselves?

If the gate was really left open, ugh. That's not good and the park are going to pay for that.

[Axxon]

Which brings us to the next question. Are people happy to have a $5/$10 hike on ticket prices, so the park can build unclimable walls around every single ride to prevent stupid people killing themselves?


Not for unclimbable walls but I know what I'd pay the extra money for.

[Lathum]

Not for unclimbable walls but I know what I'd pay the extra money for.

handjobs?

[Toddzilla]

Is it filled with sharks?Hell if I know..I ripped a hole in my pants and scratched my ass up something awful last time I tried to climb it.

[Axxon]

handjobs? Well, not at an amusement park but good answer.

[larrymcg421]

Which brings us to the next question. Are people happy to have a $5/$10 hike on ticket prices, so the park can build unclimable walls around every single ride to prevent stupid people killing themselves?


It wouldn't have to be every single ride. The nature of the Batman ride (hanging below the track) is how these incidents happened. If the kid climbed the fence for the Mindbender or Scream Machine for example, then he wouldn't be dead right now.

[Lathum]

It wouldn't have to be every single ride. The nature of the Batman ride (hanging below the track) is how these incidents happened. .

no.

these incidents happen because stupid kids do stupid things

[larrymcg421]

no.

these incidents happen because stupid kids do stupid things

Okay, I've posted at least 3 or 4 times in here already that the kid was stupid and the park was not at fault. However, my point in that last post was that the stupid kid would not have been decapitated by other rides. Just because the park isn't at fault doesn't mean they shouldn't still try to do something to try and prevent further incidents from happening. Alot of stupid people go to Six Flags.

[Lathum]

Okay, I've posted at least 3 or 4 times in here already that the kid was stupid and the park was not at fault. However, my point in that last post was that the stupid kid would not have been decapitated by other rides. Just because the park isn't at fault doesn't mean they shouldn't still try to do something to try and prevent further incidents from happening. Alot of stupid people go to Six Flags.

why should the park be responsible for protecting people against themselves?

[larrymcg421]

why should the park be responsible for protecting people against themselves?

So you don't think they should have a fence up at all?

[Lathum]

So you don't think they should have a fence up at all?

I never said that but I don't think they need a fortess erected.

and to be honest the kid would have been killed regardless of the fence because he was dumb enough to leap into a moving roller coaster.

[molson]

With any accident, someone could have done "a little more" to prevent it. That's not negligence.

This kid probably would have killed a family or something driving drunk or racing in a year or two. Good riddance.

[larrymcg421]

With any accident, someone could have done "a little more" to prevent it. That's not negligence.


Who is arguing that the park is negligent?

[Schmidty]

This kid probably would have killed a family or something driving drunk or racing in a year or two. Good riddance.

I don't even know where to start with this comment, and I don't feel like getting into another shit storm, so I'll just say that you must be a fortune teller, and a perfect person.

[rkmsuf]

Uh yeah. Batman claims another. These rides are awesome.

I wonder if the people riding were like "wow, cool special effects".

[Mustang]

Clearly the Batman ride needs to move slower. The speed of Mr. Toads Wild Ride should work.