B&B Amusements makes bid for New Mexico State Fair contract
(Tuesday, December 21, 1999) - B&B Amusements, Six Flags, and five other fair operators are bidding for a contract to provide
rides and other midway attractions for the New Mexico State Fair.
B&B Amusements had already won the bid in October, however, the state of New Mexico voided the contract due to the
company's accident history which fair officials claim was not completely revealed to them in the bidding process. The state of
New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against B&B Amusements, asking that a judge declare the previous contract invalid. In addition,
the state is asking for $50,000 in punitive damages and compensation for the expenses incurred in the second bidding process.
Fair officials are scheduled to meet early in January to decide which company will be awarded the contract.
Last week, B&B Amusements was indicted on manslaughter charges in connection with the 1998 Himalaya accident at a Texas
fair. A 15-year-old girl was killed after having been thrown out of the ride, which was owned and operated by B&B Amusements.
Police found the ride to have been "poorly maintained," that the ride operators and owners had been advised of safety problems of
the Himalaya before the incident, that the ride was being operated at an "unsafe" speed, that the restraint equipment was
inadequate, that the use of cotter pins which were too small to hold the lap bars in place created an "unsafe" restraint
system, and that this was known by the operators of the ride prior to the incident.
The company has blamed the victim for the accident.
Jurors express shock, outrage after hearing evidence in Himalaya case
(Saturday, December 18, 1999) - After returning manslaughter indictments against B&B Amusements, Bob G. Gill & Associates,
and five of their employees in connection with the death of 15-year-old Leslie Lane, Travis County grand jurors called for increased
regulation of carnival rides. In a rather unusual action, grand jurors issued a statement to Texas District Judge Wilford Flowers,
expressing their shock and outrage over what they learned in the course of their investigation.
"Each carnival ride is transported, set up, and torn down by unskilled and poorly trained employees for each of these events," said
jurors.
"Testimony has indicated that our state has little or no control of this industry."
Prosecutors in the case also expressed their amazement in regard to the actions and behavior of the companies indicted. In
October, Travis County District Attorney Brian Kingston said, "I would never let my children ride on that company's rides after what
I've learned."
Kingston also said that the evidence in this case is overwhelming. "It was sort of the more you looked, the more you found."
On Thursday, another Travis County District Attorney, Ronnie Earle, said, "As a result of our investigation, we have learned a great
deal about the carnival industry that operates in large part in the shadows with transient workers."
While the actions and behavior of the companies indicted are not indicative of the practices of the overall carnival or amusement
industry, it should be noted that B&B Amusements continues to receive the industry's full support.
B&B Amusements, Bob G. Gill & Associates charged with manslaughter
(Thursday, December 16, 1999) - A Texas grand jury has charged five people and two corporations with manslaughter in connection
with the 1998 Himalaya accident at the Austin-Travis County Livestock Show and Rodeo which left 15-year-old Leslie Lane dead
and two others injured.
Charged with manslaughter are: Robert Dale "Bobby" Merten Sr., owner of B&B Amusements of Yuma, Arizona; Robert G. Gill,
owner of Bob G. Gill & Associates of Florida; Jeff Campbell, maintenance worker for B&B Amusements; Joshua Johnson, the
operator of the Himalaya ride on the night of the accident; and Philip Joseph Parenti, who also worked for Merten. B&B
Amusements, the company which owned and operated the Himalaya ride, and Bob G. Gill & Associates, the company responsible
for inspecting the ride, also face manslaughter charges.
The accident happened on March 19, 1998. Leslie Lane was riding the Himalaya with her brother and a friend. The three were flung
from their seat after their safety bar broke off of their car. Lane was thrown into a wall and killed.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission inspected the ride and concluded that the car in which the victim was riding was
defective. Austin police also conducted their own investigation of the ride, and concluded that Lane's safety bar broke off of her car
"at all three points of attachment." The lap bar was later found underneath Lane's body. Police also concluded that "the use of
cotter pins that were too small to keep the lap bar in place created an unsafe restraint system," and that "this was known by
operators of the Himalaya ride prior to the incident."
Eight months ago, prosecutors dropped first-degree murder charges against nine people in connection with Lane's death, saying
that they needed more time to examine evidence. The manslaughter charges allege reckless conduct on the part of those named
in the indictments.
District Attorney Ronnie Earle says that the new indictments are "strongly supported by the evidence."
In a statement from the grand jury foreman, jurors say they were "shocked to discover how the lives of children are endangered by
failing to properly regulate amusement rides."
The amusement industry continues to support and defend B&B Amusements.
Owner of fatal bungee ride admits he altered ride after inspection
(Saturday, November 27, 1999) - Doug Anderson, the owner of Delaware-based Anderson Ventures LLC and the operator of the
Rocket Launcher bungee ride which killed man at a fair in Canada in 1998, testified in an Ottawa courtroom that he made
unapproved alterations to the ride after it had been inspected by Toronto's Technical Standards and Safety Authority.
Anderson faces four counts under Ontario's Amusement Devices Act. The charges include: altering an amusement device
through the use of an unapproved nylon extension strap, operating an amusement device using equipment that did not meet the
technical specifications of amusement device regulations, and altering the approved design of an amusement device without
submitting engineering changes. If found guilty, Anderson's company faces maximum fines of $100,000 for each violation.
The ride, a reverse-bungee catapult ride called the Rocket Launcher, consists of two steel towers with a bungee cord connected
to each. The cords are stretched toward the ground where they are attached to the rider's safety harness and then released,
sending the rider on a high-speed vertical launch into mid-air.
The accident happened August 24, 1998 at the Central Canada Exhibition fairgrounds in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Jerome Charron,
21, was killed after his safety harness disengaged, leaving him to fall about 100 feet from mid-air to pavement.
Kent McKay, who worked for Anderson as "jumpmaster" of the Rocket Launcher, testified: "I told Mr. Charron he can put out his
arms and fly like Superman."
The Rocket Launcher passed an inspection by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority on August 20, 1998, before the fair
opened, however, the owner of the ride substituted a blue nylon strap for the strap which had been approved for use on the ride.
The prosecutor in the case, Tom Ayres, told the court that the strap "significantly altered the safety features built into the ride."
The strap connected the victim's harness to the bungee cords.
"The use of the blue nylon extension strap created a set of conditions that was inherently dangerous," argued Ayres.
Anderson's attorney, Tom Conway, maintains that his client did "everything that could be reasonably expected" to ensure that the
ride was in safe operating condition. He admits, however, that the nylon strap which Anderson substituted had not been
professionally tested. He also conceded that the nylon strap was in a box nearby the ride at the time of the inspection, and that
Anderson never showed it to inspectors.
Conway also suggested that, since the ride had passed the inspection, the problem may lie in the current system of regulation.
The trial resumes December 14.
Structural failure to blame for roller coaster derailment
(Monday, November 15, 1999) - Investigators at Worlds of Fun theme park in Kansas City, Missouri have determined that this
summer's accident on the 19-year-old Orient Express roller coaster was caused by internal metal fatigue. A fracture was
discovered in one the ride's metal cross tie supports, which are used to align the ride's tubular rails.
The accident happened on July 17 when two rear cars of one of the ride's six-car trains struck the fractured support and derailed.
The cars were left dangling about 30 feet above the ground at a 90-degree angle. Riders were left stranded for nearly two hours until
firemen finally rescued them. No one was seriously injured.
Park officials say that the fracture originated inside of the support, leaving ride inspectors unable to detect it prior to the
accident.
Investigators included park officials, independent ride safety experts and representatives from the ride's manufacturer, Arrow
Dynamics. Worlds of Fun also asked that the state fire marshal's office observe the investigation.
The ride has been repaired and has passed subsequent safety inspections. It will reopen along with the park in April.
WaterWorld USA settles with riders in 1997 water slide collapse
(Thursday, November 11, 1999) - Attorneys for fourteen victims of the 1997 Banzai Pipeline water slide accident at WaterWorld
USA theme park in Concord, California have reached a $4 million settlement with Premier Parks, the park's parent company;
Whitewater West Industries, the ride's designer and manufacturer; and the Napa Unified School District.
The accident happened on June 2, 1997. A group of high school seniors were visiting the park in celebration of their graduation.
They ignored a lifeguard's warning and rushed past him in an attempt to slide down the ride all together. The combined weight of
the students exceeded the original design load by four times, and a section of the ride collapsed. Some of the students fell from
heights of 30 feet. They later admitted that they were trying to break the school record for the largest number of students to ride
the slide at one time. A seventeen-year-old girl was killed and thirty-two other students were injured.
The students' attorneys believe that the students should not be held reponsible for the accident, despite their reckless behavior.
In an attempt to shift the blame away from the students, attorneys blame school and park officials for failing to prevent what
happened.
Seven other personal injury claims are still pending, as is a wrongful death lawsuit. Those cases are scheduled to be heard on
June 12, 2000.
Drop Zone death: no charges, no explanation
(Friday, November 5, 1999) - The Santa Clara District Attorney's Office has announced that no charges will be filed in connection
with August's Drop Zone Stunt Tower accident at Paramount's Great America theme park. The investigation of the accident, which
left 12-year-old Joshua Smurphat dead, yielded no explanation of how the accident happened.
"How he fell from a ride equipped with a contoured seat and an over-the-shoulder safety harness is not known," says a police
report which suggests that Smurphat fell from the 129-foot tall ride as his car was descending in a freefall.
Gayle Ando, general manager of Paramount's Great America, says that park investigators were also unable to make any
conclusions about the cause of the accident. "Despite our extensive investigation to date, we may never know exactly what
happened to Joshua."
The Drop Zone Stunt Tower reopens Saturday.
Conklin Shows charged with safety violations in Wave Swinger accident
(Monday, November 1, 1999) - The Technical Standards and Safety Authority of Canada has charged Conklin Shows with safety
violations in connection with a September accident which left 18 people injured. Conklin and Garrett, Ltd. is charged with replacing
parts of its Wave Swinger ride with parts which were not designed for use on the ride. They are also charged with failing to properly
examine an amusement device, and failing to replace worn, defective, or broken components.
The accident happened at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto on September 1. Four lifting ropes inside the Wave Swinger
ripped, causing the ride to collapse.
In a statement from the ride's manufacturer, Zierer Rides president Josef Zierer said that Conklin Shows "had replaced the original
lifting ropes with ropes manufactured locally, which were not of the same quality and specifications. The lifting ropes we use for the
Wave Swinger are especially designed and calculated for this ride and should always be replaced with the same type to avoid such
accidents."
A Toronto court will hear the case on December 14.
B&B dropped, new fair operator sought: "We want people to be safe"
(Sunday, October 31, 1999) - The New Mexico State Fair Commission is searching for a new fair operator after it cancelled a
contract with B&B Amusements. Fair officials have announced that they will search for a new midway operator this week.
Fair Commission Chairman Tom Tinnin told Albuquerque's Eyewitness NewsChannel 4: "We want people to be safe. A lawsuit,
we can deal with that. We cannot deal with a death."
Officials from Murphy Brothers Exposition, Wade Shows, and Bill Hames Shows, the three midway operators who lost the original
bid to B&B Amusements, say that their companies are still interested in operating the state fair midway. It is expected that all
three companies will will enter new bids for the contract.
State voids contract with B&B: "They did not tell the truth"
(Saturday, October 30, 1999) - A contract between B&B Amusements and the New Mexico State Fair has been voided by state
attorney general Patricia Madrid. The action comes one week after fair officials granted B&B Amusements a 3-year contract to
operate the fair's carnival midway.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Madrid revoked the contract because the company failed to report a fatality which occured at
a B&B carnival in California in August, 1998; that the company failed to inform fair officials that a Texas grand jury was currently
reviewing evidence in connection with a fatality at another B&B carnival in Texas in March, 1998; and that the company failed to
report that it was in legal negotiations with the National Consumer Product Safety Commission after the commission charged
B&B with having violated the Consumer Product Safety Act in connection with the Texas accident.
"I think that this company has withheld material facts, most specifically the death of a 13-month-old child in California," Madrid told
the Albuquerque Journal. "They did not tell the truth, and the state will not honor this contract. It is void as of now."
The Journal also reports that B&B owners Stephen and Robert Merten told B&B spokesman David Margulies: "Let's get the
meanest, toughest lawyer and sue them."
B&B did report 74 accidents dating back to April 1997, including the 1998 Texas Himalaya fatality. The company did not report the
1998 accident which left a boy dead at a B&B carnival in California. The company says that the accident was not listed because it
happened on a ride which was not being operated by B&B Amusements. The ride in question, a kiddie train ride, was being
operated by Third Generation Enterprises, a company hired by B&B. Investigators determined that B&B was not at fault for the
accident.
Margulies claims that the Mertens informed fair officials about the Texas grand jury investigation at a meeting in September. He
also claims that fair officials had asked only for reports of accidents which occured within the past year, and that, since the
company's list of accidents was dated September 2, 1999, the 1998 California fatality was not included on the list because it
happened on August 30, 1998.
Senator says B&B failed to disclose legal proceedings to fair officials
(Wednesday, October 27, 1999) - New Mexico State Fair officials have told state senator Shannon Robinson that B&B
Amusements, the company that the fair contracted for its next three years of operation, failed to inform them that a Texas grand
jury is currently collecting and reviewing evidence in connection with the company's fatal Himalaya accident in 1998. The
Albuquerque Journal reports that the senator is calling upon the fair to revoke its contract with the company.
Robinson also says that B&B failed to inform fair officials that they had been warned about the Himalaya's safety restraints,
and that the company failed to disclose information about another fatal accident which killed a 13-month-old boy at a fair in
California in 1998. That accident happened on a kiddie train ride owned by Third Generation Enterprises, a company hired by
B&B Amusements. An attorney for B&B said that the company had been cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with that
death.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, the fair contract mandates that bidders "describe in detail" any legal judgments which have
been rendered against it, whether any patrons have been injured on rides, and whether any lawsuits are pending.
Robinson says that B&B told fair officials that its legal involvement in the B&B case had ended. Just last week, Brian Kingston,
Assistant District Attorney in Travis County, Texas, confirmed that a grand jury is currently seated and reviewing evidence in the
case against B&B Amusements.
A spokesman for the New Mexico State Fair says that all legal options are being explored.
"I would never let my children ride on that company's rides..."
(Friday, October 22, 1999) - In an interview with New Mexico's Albuquerque Journal, Travis County Assistant District Attorney
Brian Kingston told reporters that the investigation of last year's fatal Himalaya accident at a Texas fair continues, and that new
criminal charges are possible. Initially, the investigation led to first-degree murder charges of nine people, including owners and
employees of B&B Amusements, the company which operated the Himalaya. In May, prosecutors dropped the indictments saying
that they needed more time to examine evidence.
"It was sort of the more you looked, the more you found," Kingston told the Journal. "We thought it was better to investigate."
In response to what he has learned in the process of the investigation, Kingston said, "I would never let my children ride on that
company's rides after what I've learned."
The accident happened on March 19, 1998 at the Austin-Travis County Livestock Show and Rodeo in Austin, Texas. A 15-year-old
girl was killed and two other people were seriously injured after their safety bar broke off of their car, ejecting all three victims from
their seat.
B&B Amusements blames the victim for the accident and has received the support of many in the amusement industry, such as
the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, and Carousel magazine, a publication of the National Carnival Association.
Police investigating the accident found the ride to have been "poorly maintained," that the ride operators and owners had been
advised of safety problems of the Himalaya before the incident, that the ride was being operated at "unsafe" speeds, that the
restraint equipment was inadequate, that the use of cotter pins which were too small to hold the lap bars in place created an
"unsafe" restraint system, and that this was known by the operators of the ride prior to the incident. They suggested that the
accident was a case of criminally negligent homicide.
A grand jury continues to collect and review evidence in Austin.
Himalaya civil lawsuits settled
(Tuesday, October 12, 1999) - The family of the 15-year-old girl who was killed after her safety bar broke off of a Himalaya ride at
a 1998 Texas fair has settled lawsuits it filed against the ride's owner, inspectors, Travis County, and the Austin-Travis County
Livestock Show and Rodeo.
On March 19, 1998, Leslie Lane was riding the Himalaya with her brother and a friend. The three were flung from their seat after
their safety bar broke off from their car. Lane was thrown into a wall and killed.
B&B Amusements, the company that owned and operated the ride, blames Leslie Lane for the accident. In May, California's
Orange County Register reported that a spokesman for B&B "suggested that the only way a rider could have been thrown from the
ride was if she had tried to stand up." However, no eyewitnesses -- not even the ride operators -- reported having seen the girl stand
up or misbehave in any way.
B&B Amusements has received the support of many amusement industry organizations, including the Outdoor Amusement
Business Association and the National Carnival Association.
Police investigators concluded that the ride was "poorly maintained," that the ride operators and owners had been advised of safety
problems of the Himalaya before the incident, that the ride was being operated at "unsafe" speeds, that the restraint equipment
was inadequate, that the use of cotter pins which were too small to hold the lap bars in place created an "unsafe" restraint system,
and that this was known by the operators of the ride prior to the incident. They suggested that the accident was a case of criminally
negligent homicide.
The civil lawsuits were filed in April on behalf of the girl, her brother, and her friend. The settlement was reached October 1. No
details of the agreement will be made public. The judgment will be sealed.
The criminal case against owners and employees of B&B Amusements and ride inpectors is still pending. A civil lawsuit filed
against the ride's manufacturer is also pending.
Davis signs California amusement park safety bill into law
(Monday, October 4, 1999) - California Governor Gray Davis has signed into law a measure which regulates the operation of the
state's amusement park rides. The new law mandates that parks must have their rides inspected annually by state-certified
engineers. The bill also gives the state's Department of Industrial Relations the authority to inspect rides which caused an accident
or are suspected of being unsafe, and shut down any ride which fails to pass the new state inspections.
The measure was introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Tom Torlakson of Antioch in response to two deadly accidents; one
last year at Disneyland, and the other in 1997 at Waterworld USA. Records show that there have been more than 12 fatal
accidents at California amusement parks since 1973.
The bill also mandates that parks report all serious injuries and fatalities to the state, and imposes a fine of $25,000 for any
violation which leads to serious injury or death. In addition, all parks must carry $1 million in liability insurance and institute
safety training programs for park employees. The new law also mandates that parks repair or modify any ride which fails to pass
an inspection before the ride can reopen.
California joins 38 other states which already have fixed-site amusement park rides under state regulations.
The amusement industry opposed the new state regulations, and also opposes any new federal regulations.
IAAPA: states have amusement park safety under control
(Wednesday, September 22, 1999) - As efforts begin to restore authority to regulate the operation of amusement park rides to
the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)
is questioning conclusions being drawn from recent government statistics, and questioning whether new federal regulations would
improve the industry's safety record.
"In light of the existing layers of inspection and the remarkable safety record that has resulted, we think the present regulatory
system works very well and we question whether federal regulation of fixed-site rides would improve upon this record," says
IAAPA spokesman Joel Cliff.
In response to the latest CPSC statistics which show an 87% increase in the number of amusement park ride injuries since 1994,
Cliff cautions against drawing any conclusions about an increase in the actual number of occurences of accidents and injuries.
"According to our sources at the CPSC, the bulk of that increase was largely due to changes and improvements in their methods
of data collection and analysis rather than an actual jump of 1500 injuries in one season. As you can see by the numbers from the
past three years, the figures have remained fairly consistent, and have even gone down."
CPSC records show that fixed-site amusement rides were responsible for an estimated 4,300 injuries in 1996; 4,600 in 1997; and
4,500 in 1998. There were an estimated 2,400 injuries in 1994.
CPSC: injuries from amusement park rides up 87% since 1994
(Tuesday, September 21, 1999) - In a letter to Representative Edward Markey of Massachusetts, Ann Brown, the chairwoman of
the National Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), reports that injuries resulting from amusement park rides surged 87%
between 1994 and 1998. Markey is preparing to introduce federal legislation which would give the CPSC the authority to regulate
the operation of amusement park rides in the United States. Markey is the top Democrat on the House Commerce Subcommittee
on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Brown reports that in 1994, there were an estimated 2,400 injuries which occurred at amusement parks and led to emergency
treatments. By 1998, the number had risen to 4,500, an increase of 87%.
At present, the CPSC only has jurisdiction over carnival rides which move from state to state. The CPSC used to regulate all ride
operation, including that of fixed-site amusement park rides, however, in 1981, Congress exempted all fixed-site amusement rides
from federal regulation.
Wave Swinger accident not the fault of manufacturer
(Tuesday, September 21, 1999) - Officials have determined that this month's collapse of a fair ride in Canada was not caused by a
failure of the ride's hydraulic system. After investigating the accident, Zierer Rides, the manufacturer of the Wave Swinger, has
concluded that there were no problems with the ride's hydraulic system, but that four lifting ropes inside the ride had ripped. Early
reports had indicated that the ropes ripped as a result of the collapse, however, the investigation led authorites to conclude that the
ropes, which were not designed by Zierer and not in accord with Zierer's specifications for the ride, were the sole cause of the
collapse.
"The customer had replaced the original lifting ropes with ropes manufactured locally, which were not of the same quality and
specifications. The lifting ropes we use for the Wave Swinger are especially designed and calculated for this ride and should
always be replaced with the same type to avoid such accidents," says Josef Zierer of Zierer Rides.
Authorities in Canada have ultimately come to this conclusion and have declared that the Zierer Company was not to blame for
the mishap.
Sixteen children were injured in the accident, none seriously.
Authority to regulate amusement rides could be restored to CPSC
(Friday, September 3, 1999) - Democratic Congressman Edward Markey of Massachusetts has announced that he will introduce
federal legislation which would give the National Consumer Product Safety Commission the authority to regulate the operation of all
amusement rides in the United States. Representative Markey is the top Democrat on the House Commerce Subcommittee on
Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection.
At present, the CPSC only has jurisdiction over carnival rides which move from state to state. The CPSC used to regulate all ride
operation, including that of fixed-site amusement park rides, however, in 1981, Congress exempted all fixed-site amusement rides
from federal regulation.
Markey's legislation would give the CPSC the authority to set standards for rides, perform inspections, investigate accidents,
recall unsafe equipment, and impose civil penalties.
The CPSC supports the legislation.
Boy jumps from Shockwave coaster, claims he wasn't properly secured
(Thursday, September 2, 1999) - At Paramount's King's Dominion theme park in Doswell, Virginia, a 13-year-old boy jumped out
of the park's Shockwave roller coaster because he felt he was going to fall out of his car if it had continued through the ride. The
boy slipped out from his safety restraint mechanism as the coaster train was climbing the lift hill. He jumped onto the ride's
catwalk and was not seriously injured.
The boy claims that he and several other riders tried to alert ride operators before the train left the station, but that the operators
failed to respond.
Park officials say that the ride was working properly at the time of the incident. The ride passed a subsequent inspection.
On August 23, a 20-year-old man was killed after he fell out of the ride. Park officials fault the man for the accident, citing
witnesses who saw the man acting unruly during the course of the ride.
Fair ride collapses; 16 injured
(Wednesday, September 1, 1999) - At the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, Canada, 16 children were injured after a ride
collapsed. The ride, known as the Wave Swinger, is a circular swing ride with a capacity of 48 passengers. Riders are seated in
chairs which are attached to the ride's overhead arms by metal chains. The ride rotates about a central hydraulic structure, which
lifts and lowers riders through the air during the ride.
The accident happened after the ride's four lifting ropes broke. The owners of the ride had replaced the manufacturer's original lifting
ropes with ropes manufactured locally, which were not of the same quality and specifications.
Fourteen children, aged 5 to 15, were taken by ambulance to area hospitals. Two other children were treated at the scene. Injuries
ranged from cuts and bruises to head, neck, and back injuries. None of the children's injuries appears to be life-threatening.
The ride, owned and operated by Conklin Shows, was operating at full capacity when the accident happened. It had been inspected
once on Tuesday and once on Wednesday.
The accident marks the second time in one week that a Conklins Shows ride malfunctioned. On Friday, two people were injured
when a Conklin ride broke at the Central Canada Exhibition fairgrounds in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. That accident happened when
a steel arm, which carried the victims' car, broke off from the ride and fell to the ground.
Both rides have been shut down and the accidents are under investigation.
Two dead after New Jersey roller coaster malfunctions
(Saturday, August 28, 1999) - A 39-year-old mother and her 8-year-old daughter are dead after an accident on the Wild Wonder
roller coaster at Gillian's Wonderland Pier in Ocean City, New Jersey. Police have determined that the accident was caused by
mechanical malfunction.
The accident happened when the car rolled backwards for 30 feet and rounded a sharp curve. The centrifugal force of the curve
ejected the victims from the ride. Ultimately, the car collided with a stationary car in the loading station.
One other child and one other adult were also injured in the crash. They were treated at a local hospital and released shortly
thereafter.
The coaster is one of the park's newest attractions, having opened in July. The Wild Wonder is a newly-manufactured, mini, steel
"wild mouse" coaster, built by Zamperla Rides, whose local offices are located in Parsippany, New Jersey. Representatives from
the company will help investigators inspect the ride and determine how the accident happened.
The ride passed two inspections, including one state inspection which took place less than two months ago.
The ride has been shut down pending an investigation of the accident.
Paramount's Carowinds, Canada's Wonderland close rides
(Wednesday, August 25, 1999) - Paramount's Carowinds and Paramount's Canada's Wonderland theme parks have closed 3
rides in response to two fatal accidents which occurred at two other Paramount theme parks since Sunday. Paramount's
Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina, has closed its Drop Zone thrill ride, while Paramount's Canada's Wonderland in
Toronto has closed its own Drop Zone ride, and Skyrider, a stand-up steel roller coaster similar to the one from which a man fell
to his death earlier this week.
On Sunday, a boy was killed after he fell from the Drop Zone ride at Paramount's Great America theme park in Santa Clara,
California. On Monday, a man was killed in an accident involving "Shockwave," a stand-up, steel roller coaster at Paramount's
Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.
In Ohio, Paramount's Kings Island theme park has closed two of its own rides: Drop Zone, and King Cobra, another stand-up steel
roller coaster similar to Shockwave. Paramount now has seven rides shut down at five parks throughout North America. Paramount
officials say that the rides will remain closed until the investigations of this week's accidents have concluded.
Paramount: no operator error, no malfunction
(Wednesday, August 25, 1999) - While the cause of Monday night's fatal accident on a roller coaster at Paramount's Kings
Dominion theme park is still unclear, park officials are citing witness accounts which indicate that the victim's unruly behavior
may have caused him to fall out of the ride. The 20-year-old man was riding the park's Shockwave stand-up roller coaster late
Monday night when he apparently fell from his car. Officials have released very few details about the incident, but say that the
man was not in the car when the train returned to the station.
Park officials also say that the ride's restraint system was working properly, and that there were no errors made by ride operators
which would have contributed to the accident.
Representatives from the ride's designer, Togo Rides of Cincinnati, Ohio, are helping park and police officials determine the cause
of the accident. The ride will remain closed throughout the investigation. Paramount has also closed "King Cobra," a similar
stand-up-style roller coaster at its Kings Island theme park in Ohio.
Witnesses: safety bar wasn't checked; boy struggled to stay inside car
(Tuesday, August 24, 1999) - A man who witnessed Sunday's accident at Paramount's Great America theme park told the San
Francisco Chronicle that the 12-year-old boy who was killed after falling out of the Drop Zone thrill ride struggled to stay inside the
car after his shoulder harness flew open during his ride. The witness claims that the harness opened as the boy's car was being
stopped by the ride's braking system, and that he saw the child struggle to remain secured in his seat.
Another witness, who was riding next to the victim, claims that no one checked to make sure the shoulder harnesses had been
secured. He, too, says that the boy fell out as the brakes began to bring the car to a stop.
Park officials say that they found the boy's shoulder harness to be locked when they inspected the car after the accident
happened, however, the harness may have locked as a result of the forces exerted on the car as it was stopped by the
brakes.
The accident is under investigation. The Drop Zone remains closed.
Employee dead after accident at Lake Compounce
(Saturday, August 21, 1999) - A 16-year-old boy died Saturday from injuries he suffered at Lake Compounce amusement park in
Bristol, Connecticut. On Friday, the boy was working as a ride attendant on the Tornado, a spinning ride more commonly known
as the Scrambler. The accident happened when the boy stepped onto the ride before it had come to a complete stop. His legs got
caught underneath the ride and he was dragged until the operator activated the emergency stop. The boy was left pinned underneath
the ride from the waist down.
Firefighters used inflatable devices to lift the ride off of the victim. After the boy was freed, he was transported by helicopter to a
hospital, where he underwent surgery. His injuries included a head wound and broken bones, in addition to possible broken arms,
dislocated shoulders, and multiple internal injuries.
The state fire marshal inspected the ride and determined that it did not malfunction. Park officials had planned to operate the ride
Saturday, but have decided not to, out of respect for the victim.
Premier Parks, Six Flags shut down all river rapids rides
(Monday, August 9, 1999) - Premier Parks, parent company of the Six Flags theme park chain, has ordered that all river rapids
rides be shut down at all its parks across the United States. The action comes in response to yesterday's accident at Riverside
Park in Agawam, Massachusetts. Two people remain hospitalized in critical condition after their raft flipped over on the park's
Blizzard River rapids ride.
In March, one woman was killed and nine people were injured at Six Flags Over Texas after a raft capsized on the park's Roaring
Rapids ride. A faulty inner tube was to blame for that accident.
While both Riverside Park and Six Flags Over Texas are owned and operated by the same company, their river rapids rides were
not designed by the same manufacturer. Roaring Rapids was designed and manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland, and
Blizzard River was designed and manufactured by O.D. Hopkins Associates of Penacook, New Hampshire.
A spokesman for Premier says that all of its 17 rapids rides at Premier and Six Flags theme parks across the country will remain
closed until the investigation of yesterday's accident is completed.
Rapids ride raft overturns at Riverside Park; 6 injured
(Saturday, August 7, 1999) - At Riverside Park in Agawam, Massachusetts, 6 people were injured when their raft capsized on the
park's Blizzard River rapids ride. The ride is one of the park's newest attractions -- it was added to the park this year. The raft
overturned toward the end of the ride, about 50 feet from the loading station, flipping the six passengers upside down into the
water.
Two of the victims were treated and released from a local hospital, however two adults and two children remain hospitalized. The
two adults are listed as being in critical condition, while one child is listed as being in serious condition, and the other in fair
condition.
Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety and Riverside Park are investigating the cause of the accident. The
ride will remain closed until the investigation is completed.
The accident is the third of its kind this season. In March, one woman was killed and ten others were injured after a raft capsized
on the Roaring Rapids ride at Six Flags Over Texas, and less than two weeks ago, five people were injured at Visionland Park in
Birmingham, Alabama, when their raft overturned on the park's "Wild River Gorge" attraction.
While both Riverside Park and Six Flags Over Texas are owned and operated by the same company, their river rapids rides were
not designed by the same manufacturer. Roaring Rapids was designed and manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland, and
Blizzard River was designed and manufactured by O.D. Hopkins Associates of Penacook, New Hampshire.
More than 100 riders injured on Mind Eraser coasters
(Wednesday, August 4, 1999) - In a case pending against Six Flags Elitch Gardens, a judge ordered Premier Parks, Inc., parent
company of the Six Flags theme park chain, to disclose the safety records of four of its Mind Eraser roller coasters located at
parks owned by Premier throughout the U.S. The case stems from a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she suffered multiple
injuries as a result of riding the Mind Eraser at Six Flags Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.
Premier revealed that, between 1997 and 1998, there had been 128 injuries sustained by riders of Mind Eraser roller coasters: 31
at Elitch Gardens, 33 at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky; 42 at Riverside Park in Agawam, Massachusetts;
and 22 injuries at Six Flags Darien Lake in Darien Center, New York.
Lawyers for Elitch Gardens demanded that the detailed information contained in the reports be kept from the public under the
terms of a strict confidentiality agreement.
A spokeswoman for Elitch Gardens insists that the Mind Eraser coasters are safe.
Operators could be blamed for Thunderbolt malfunction
(Friday, July 9, 1999) - Investigators say that ride operators could be to blame for Thursday night's Thunderbolt roller coaster
malfunction at Kennywood Park. An inspection of the ride led investigators to conclude that there are no mechanical problems
with the ride, and that the braking system is functioning properly.
The accident happened in the ride's boarding station. As one of the ride's trains was being loaded with passengers, the other train,
which was finishing its run, failed to stop as it entered the station, and collided with the stationary train, sending it through the
station and out onto a section of track. About 30 people were injured in the crash.
The ride is equipped with automatic and manual brakes, both of which passed a mechanical inspection. The ride has passed park
and state inspections and has been re-opened.
One killed, eight injured after car flies off Himalaya ride at Coney Island
(Friday, June 11, 1999) - At Coney Island Amusement Park in Brooklyn, New York, a 17-year-old girl was killed in an accident
on the park's Super Himalaya amusement ride. The girl suffered massive internal injuries after her car flipped over, flew 10-15 feet,
landed on another car, and ultimately pinned the victim to the track. Eight other people suffered minor injuries.
Authorities are blaming the accident on a broken metal coupling, used to attach the ride's cars. The ride was traveling in reverse
when the accident happened.
The ride passed an inspection on March 27. The Super Himalaya is owned by Norman Kaufman. New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
has called for all of Kaufman's rides to be re-inspected immediately.
Ironically, the girl was riding in car number 19, the same number car from which another teenage girl was thrown to her death in a
Himalaya accident in Texas last year.
Bungee ride owner pleads not guilty
(Friday, May 21, 1999) - Tom Conway, the lawyer representing Anderson Ventures and its owner, Doug Anderson, says that his
client is pleading not guilty to charges which resulted from a fatal accident on a bungee-type ride operated by the company.
The accident happened at the Central Canada Exhibition grounds in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, last year. A 21-year-old man was
killed while riding a reverse-bungee ride called the Rocket Launcher. The man was launched over 130 feet straight up into midair,
and then fell to the pavement after the harness, which attached the bungee cord to the victim, disengaged.
The ride passed an inspection three days before the accident, but officials say that its owner made unauthorized modifications to
the ride after the inspection. Conway says that the owner had done nothing wrong.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority of Ontario has charged Anderson and his company with four counts of safety
violations, including: altering an amusement device through the use of an unapproved nylon extension strap, operating an
amusement device using equipment that did not meet the technical specifications of amusement device regulations, and altering
the approved design of an amusement device without submitting engineering changes. If found guilty, Anderson's company faces
maximum fines of $100,000 for each violation.
A trial date will be set on June 10.
Prosecutors extend Himalaya investigation, dismiss indictments
(Friday, April 30, 1999) - Prosecutors in Travis County, Texas, have dropped murder indictments which they had brought against
nine people in connection with the death of the 15-year-old girl who was killed at the Austin-Travis County Livestock Show and
Rodeo last March. The indictments charged the carnival owners, ride operators, maintenace workers, and safety inspectors with
"knowingly and intentionally" causing the death of the victim. They have all been dropped, pending a further, extended
investigation.
Prosecutors say that they need more time to examine the evidence, and that the extended investigation will ultimately lead to
some type of criminal charges.
"As we re-examined our evidence, we learned of possible new evidence, and it became clear that a tremendous amount of
additional investigation will be necessary to ensure that those who are responsible for the tragic death of Leslie Lane and the
injuries of two other children are held criminally accountable."
Police investigators concluded that the ride was "poorly maintained," that the ride operators and owners had been advised of safety
problems of the Himalaya before the incident, that the ride was being operated at "unsafe" speeds, that the restraint equipment
was inadequate, that the use of cotter pins which were too small to hold the lap bars in place created an "unsafe" restraint
system, and that this was known by the operators of the ride prior to the incident. The girl's safety bar broke off from her car while
the ride was whirling at high speeds. The victim was thrown from the car and into a wall. The lap bar was later found underneath her
body. Investigators found that the lap bar broke off from the car "at all three points of attachment." Police suggested that the
evidence points to a case of criminally negligent homicide.
The victim's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the carnival owners, the ride's manufacturer, ride inspectors, and
the Travis County Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Deflated inner tube, broken cord to blame for Roaring Rapids accident
(Tuesday, April 20, 1999) - After a month-long investigation of the Roaring Rapids ride at Six Flags Over Texas theme park in
Arlington, Texas, safety experts from six different amusement industry firms have concluded that a deflated inner tube and a
broken bungee cord are to blame for last month's fatal accident in which a raft capsized, then trapped its passengers underwater.
One woman was killed and ten people were injured.
Investigators concluded that several of the air chambers located within the inner tube of the raft had deflated, causing the raft to
ride low in the water and to tilt to one side. As the raft passed over an incline, the deflated inner tube became lodged against a
pipe which runs underneath the surface of the water, along the ride trough. The pipes are used to create the rapids effect along the
surface of the water throughout the ride. The force of the water flowing from behind the raft, which was stopped at an angle,
ultimately caused the raft to flip over.
The force of the rushing water may also have caused a bungee cord, used to attach the seating unit to the inner tube, to break,
causing the two raft parts to separate.
Inspectors have not determined the cause of the air leaks, but say that five adjacent air pockets within the inner tube had deflated,
four of which were leaking air at the seams. All of the ride's inner tubes will be examined at a laboratory, where they will undergo
pressure testing and be certified. Once the rafts are returned to the park and have been reassembled, they will undergo further
testing.
Six Flags says that it will install ramps throughout the course of the ride, which will prevent rafts from lodging against the pipes in
the future. They will also use an additional roping device to secure the seating units onto the inner tubes. Also, in response to
claims that the park's rescue efforts were delayed, the park will install flotation devices around the ride area, and a new emergency
warning system in the loading station. The system will indicate to ride operators when the force of the water has slowed to a safe
level whenever the pumps are shut off in an emergency situation. This will allow operators to enter the water and begin rescue
efforts at the earliest possible time.
The investigation included safety experts from Six Flags and Intamin AG, the designer and manufacturer of the Roaring Rapids
ride. They also included inspectors from ATA Associates, Freeman Enterprises, PLH and Associates, and Richard J. Coulter and
Associates.
The park employees who were responsible for the maintenance and operation of the ride and its equipment were cleared of any
negligence or liability by investigators.
The ride will reopen after all safety modifications are made to the ride, and after all of the rafts are thoroughly tested.
Riders stranded for hours after roller coaster stalls
(Wednesday, April 7, 1999) - A roller coaster at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom theme park in Louisville, Kentucky, stalled mid-ride,
stranding 27 riders nearly 60 feet in the air. Some riders were trapped in their cars for nearly four hours. Firefighters were called to
the scene to rescue the passengers.
The incident happened on the Vampire roller coaster. The coaster train failed to complete what is known as a boomerang element.
Similar to the more commonly known corkscrew element, a boomerang is a twisted U-shaped section of track which inverts riders
twice. The train failed to pass through the second inversion, and came to a stop on the section of track which dips between the two
inversions. Cars toward the front and back of the train were tilted at nearly 45 degrees, and the occupants of those cars were the
first to be rescued. The riders of the middle cars were only slightly angled.
Riders were given a stuffed animal and a bottle of water for their inconvenience. No one was injured.
The coaster was manufactured 14 years ago by Vekoma International of the Netherlands. It was first operated at Lakeside
Amusement Park in China. Five years later, it was dismantled and sold to Kentucky Kingdom. The coaster was reconstructed at
Kentucky Kingdom and reopened there in 1990. It is the oldest of the park's roller coasters. Normally, it reaches speeds of up to
48 miles per hour and heights of up to 125 feet. It travels forward though three inversions, then backward through the same three
inversions. The ride lasts less than a minute.
Park officials will inspect and fix the ride before it is reopened, although it was inspected just hours before the incident occurred.
Bungee ride owner gets two months to decide plea
(Friday, March 26, 1999) - The Anderson Ventures Company of Delaware has been granted two months to decide how it will
respond to charges filed against it by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority of Ontario, Canada. The company and its
owner, Doug Anderson, have been charged with four counts of safety violations leading to the death of a 21-year-old man last
summer at the Central Canada Exhibition grounds in Ottowa, Ontario. The charges include: altering an amusement device through
the use of an unapproved nylon extension strap and operating an amusement device using equipment that did not meet the
technical specifications of amusement device regulations.
If found guilty, Anderson's company faces maximum fines of $100,000 for each violation.
The ride, a reverse-bungee catapult ride called Rocket Launcher, consists of two steel towers with a bungee cord connected to
each. The cords are stretched toward the ground where they are attached to the rider's safety harness and then released, sending
the rider on a high-speed vertical launch into midair.
The Rocket Launcher passed an inspection by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority on August 20, 1998, before the fair
opened. Three days later, the victim boarded the ride, which had since been altered by the owner. A nylon extension strap
connected the man's harness to the bungee cords. As the rider was launched, the harness disengaged. The man was killed in his
130-foot fall from midair to pavement.
Attorneys representing Anderson say they are not yet sure what they will do.
The pleas will be entered on May 20.
Witnesses: staff took too long to rescue victims; park to review procedures
(Wednesday, March 24, 1999) - Patrons of Six Flags Over Texas say that employees made no immediate attempt to rescue the
victims whose raft capsized on the Roaring Rapids ride on Sunday. One woman told ride operators that she was a certified diving
instructor, trained to handle emergency situations, but says that she was told not to help the victims, who were strapped in their
seats upside-down, underwater, struggling to free themselves from underneath the raft. The woman says that ride operators
panicked, and looked like they didn't know what to do. Seeing that there was no sign of any rescue effort, the woman decided to
go out to the victims to help free them.
Park officials say that ride operators are trained to respond to emergency situations, but that park policy restricts operators
from leaving the dock and entering the water to help. Operators are instead trained to activate an emergency alarm, which alerts
the park medical staff and other trained employees.
A spokeswoman for the park claims that help arrived within two minutes, but some say that two minutes is too long a reponse
time, and that timing is crucial when a person is drowning.
Park officials admit that there were no life preservers, ropes, or poles nearby which might have assisted in the rescue effort. They
say they will review the park's procedural policies.
CPSC, Reverchon announce repair program for Himalaya rides
(Tuesday, March 23, 1999) - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Reverchon Industries
are offering new inspection and maintenance procedures and secondary restraints for approximately 25 Himalaya amusement rides
operating in the U.S.
CPSC has received reports of five incidents involving the Himalaya ride resulting in two deaths and three injuries. This repair
program is the result of a CPSC investigation of these incidents. Most recently, one rider was killed and two others seriously
injured when they were ejected from the ride in Austin, Texas, on March 19, 1998. The component failures appear to be the result
of poor maintenance and inspection procedures. These rides should be properly inspected and maintained according to the
manufacturer's specifications or serious injury and death to riders can occur.
Reverchon is offering ride owners and state safety officials current inspection and maintenance guidelines, and a free tolerance
gauge which measures wear on the lap bar latch. Ride operators also must install a speed control device and a secondary lap bar
latching device. For more information, owners and state safety officials can contact Reverchon in the USA at (503) 694-2803
or Reverchon in France at 011-331-6074-9400.
CPSC is working with state regulators to ensure that these safety repairs and inspections are carried out. In addition to this repair
program, CPSC has issued three safety alerts to states for inspection of the Himalaya rides. While CPSC has jurisdiction over the
mobile rides that move from place to place, states and local communities are responsible for inspections and oversight.
While most states currently have some mandatory regulations or inspection program to ensure ride safety, the following states
have no regulations and do not require that rides be inspected for safety: Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Utah and Vermont. The following states have insurance company or other private inspections, but do not require
inspections by state or local regulators: Arizona, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas.
Knoebels water slide brings injuries, lawsuits
(Tuesday, March 2, 1999) - An attorney representing two girls who sustained vaginal injuries while riding a water slide at a
Pennsylvania amusement park has discovered a history of complaints of injuries made by riders after they had ridden the same
ride. Fifteen injuries have been reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Ride and Measurement
Standards in recent years, including six other reports of injuries to riders' genital areas.
The Speed Slide, also known as the Super Slide, is a 40-foot vertical drop water slide attraction at Knoebels Amusement Park in
Elysburg, Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit seeks $9,200 in medical costs and at least $50,000 in damages on behalf of one girl, 11, who suffered vaginal
lacerations and had her cervix torn away from her vaginal wall as a result of riding the Speed Slide. The suit also alleges the girl
suffered pain, embarrassment, humiliation, emotional distress, permanent vaginal scarring, significant blood loss, and loss of her
daily activities. The suit also seeks $5,300 in medical costs and at least $100,000 in damages on behalf of the other girl, 12, who
suffered a two-inch cut inside her vagina. Both girls underwent emergency surgery.
The park is charged with negligence, failure to monitor the amount of force of the water and its effect on riders, failure to fix defects,
and failure to provide adequate warnings to riders.
California woman wins suit against Knott's Berry Farm
(Monday, February 22, 1999) - A woman who fell from an amusement ride at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, has
been awarded $69,000 in damages by an Orange County jury.
The woman, 36, fell from the park's Big Foot Rapids Ride in 1996. Her injuries included a fractured rib and bruises. She admitted
that she stood up as the raft in which she was riding approached a waterfall, but her attorney contended that the accident would
not have happened had her seat belt worked properly.
Attorneys for the park argued that the accident would not have happened had the woman remained seated. They also argued that
riders are warned to stay seated throughout the ride, and that the woman must have removed her seat belt.
The woman was awarded the $69,000 in compensation for medical treatment, and mental and physical pain. She did not receive
any punitive damages.
The park will not make any modifications to the ride.
Canadian officials charge bungee ride company, owner
(Wednesday, January 20, 1999) - The Technical Standards and Safety Authority of Ontario, Canada has charged the Anderson
Ventures Company of Delaware and its owner, Doug Anderson, with four counts of safety violations leading to the death of a
21-year-old man last summer at the Central Canada Exhibition grounds in Ottowa, Ontario. The charges include: altering an
amusement device through the use of an unapproved nylon extension strap, operating an amusement device using equipment that
did not meet the technical specifications of amusement device regulations, and altering the approved design of an amusement
device without submitting engineering changes. If found guilty, Anderson's company faces maximum fines of $100,000 for each
violation. The case is expected to be heard February 11, 1999.
The ride, a reverse-bungee catapult ride called Rocket Launcher, consists of two steel towers with a bungee cord connected to
each. The cords are stretched toward the ground where they are attached to the rider's safety harness and then released, sending
the rider on a high-speed vertical launch into midair.
The Rocket Launcher passed an inspection by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority on August 20, 1998, before the fair
opened. Three days later, the victim boarded the ride, which had since been altered by the owner. A nylon extension strap
connected the man's harness to the bungee cords. As the rider was launched, the harness disengaged. The man was killed in
his 130-foot fall from midair to pavement.
Officials have not yet determined whether the cause of the accident was mechanical failure or human error. They say that will be
determined in court.
Ottawa-Carleton police officials will decide whether to file criminal charges against Anderson.
Wisconsin jury awards $1 billion in case against go-kart manufacturer
(Wednesday, January 13, 1999) - A jury in Milwaukee County has awarded $1 billion in punitive damages in a case against
Johnson Kart Manufacturing of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The lawsuit was filed after a 32 year old woman died as a result of burns which she sustained in a go-kart accident in Pensacola,
Florida in June of 1992. The accident happened after the kart in which the victim was riding, which was built and sold by the
Milwaukee company, burst into flames. The woman was trapped in the car for more than two minutes, as gasoline poured from the
2-gallon fuel tank and burned all around her. Attempts to rescue the victim from the vehicle were unsuccessful, as the intense heat
from the blaze kept back by-standers. The woman finally fell from the vehicle after the seat belt which she was wearing burned
through.
She was later airlifted to a hospital in Mobile, Alabama. Most of her body was burned through to the muscle. Many parts of her
body were completely destroyed, including her nose, ears, and fingers. Despite all this, she remained conscious throughout the
entire time she was trapped in the kart, and while she was being transported to the Mobile hospital. She remained there and
underwent treatment for ten months, after which she was sent to a rehabilitation center in Texas. She eventually contracted an
infection there and finally died on June 17, 1993.
Martin Levin, the attorney who argued the case against Johnson Kart Manufacturing and its president, Melvin C. Johnson,
described the woman's injuries as "the worst pain attainable by a human being."
The woman's doctor described them as "beyond our wildest imagination."
Johnson's company used Honda engines to power the karts, but installed two-gallon gas tanks on the cars instead of one-gallon
tanks, which were the standard for the type of engines used. Washers were then welded onto the caps of the gas tanks to make
the tanks more accessible for refueling. The evidence showed that the welding weakened the caps and made them more sensitive
to the vibrating of the engine, which often caused them to loosen and fall off the cars. Workers at the Go-Kart track in Pensacola
testified that several gas caps would fall from the cars each day, and that they told Johnson about the problem, but he repeatedly
ignored their complaints. Johnson was not present at the trial, and no defense was presented.
The jury returned its verdict to Circuit Judge Diane Stykes, who called the jury's action "stunning; absolutely stunning."
Levin does not expect to collect much of the award from Johnson or his company. He said that his goal was to send a message
to Johnson and to the industry.
