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Woman, 60, in critical condition after fall from Ferris wheel
(Friday, September 28, 2007) - At the Middle Tennessee District Fair in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, a 60-year-old woman was seriously injured when she fell from the top of a Ferris wheel. The woman fell 30 feet from the top of the ride and landed onto spokes near the center axle of the wheel. Rescue workers removed her from the ride and rushed her to a hospital. Initially, she was listed in critical condition, however she is expected to recover from her injuries, which include a broken collar bone, ribs and leg.Witnesses told investigators that the woman was standing up and waving inside the gondola when she fell.
The ride was shut down as a precaution, and inspectors were expected to investigate.
Teen struck by falling ride part
(Monday, September 17, 2007) - At the Cullman County Fair in Cullman, Alabama, a 17-year-old man suffered minor injuries when a small part of an amusement ride either fell from the ride or broke off, then struck him. Witnesses said that the ride, called 1001 Nights, made a loud noise. The teen was not on the ride at the time.The ride is owned and operated by North American Midway Entertainment. A spokesman for the company said that the universal joint may be the part that broke, but the ride would remain closed until the cause was determined for sure, parts could be replaced, and the ride could be reinspected.
Two thrown from fair ride in Dublin
(Monday, September 17, 2007) - At a fair near Dublin, Ireland, a 28-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl were thrown from a high speed amusement ride. The woman was hospitalized in serious but stable condition. The girl was treated for minor injuries and released.The accident is under investigation.
Car falls off fair ride
(Saturday, September 8, 2007) - Two 14-year-old boys were seriously injured when their car came loose and detached from an octopus-type amusement ride at Beek en Donk in the Netherlands. They were taken via trauma helicopter to a hospital, where they were treated for serious injuries. Both victims are expected to fully recover.Investigators found no mechanical defects with the ride, and were expected to determine whether the car was properly attached to the ride, and whether proper inspections had occurred.
Teenager injured on Gravitron at Washington fair
(Saturday, September 8, 2007) - At the Spokane County Interstate Fair in Spokane, Washington, a teenage boy was injured while riding a Gravitron amusement ride. He hit his head on a metal part of the ride, and needed to staples in his scalp to close the wound.Witnesses say that the boy ignored safety warnings and climbed the walls of the ride while it was in motion. State investigators determined that the ride was safe and that the accident was the result of the victim's behavior.
Twenty evacuated from stalled roller coaster
(Saturday, August 25, 2007) - At Luna Park in Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 passengers were evacuated from a roller coaster after it stalled. The incident happened on a steel boomerang-type roller coaster called Anaconda, on which riders travel backwards and forwards through several inversions. The ride's train of cars stopped after it was lifted to the top of the ride. Officials say that the brakes jammed, leaving passengers stranded. After 40 minutes, riders were evacuated via a stairway that leads from the loading station to the top of the ride where the car was stuck. No one was injured.
Man killed underneath inverted roller coaster
(Saturday, August 18, 2007) - At Mirabilandia theme park in Ravenna, Italy, a man was killed after he was struck in the head by the leg of a roller coaster passenger. The accident happened on Katun, an inverted roller coaster that features cars that hang from an overhead track. The legs of riders hang below the seats during the entire course of the ride.The man was in a restricted area underneath the ride when he was struck.The girl whose leg struck the man was injured.
The ride was shut down and officials are investigating.
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Octopus ride accident injures two
(Saturday, August 18, 2007) - At the Price County Fair in Phillips, Wisconsin, a gondola dropped to the ground from an amusement ride called the Octopus. A man was ejected from the car and hospitalized with a broken back. His 9-year-old daughter was also injured. The ride is operated by Spectrum Entertainment. It had passed an inspection before the fair opened, however a spokesman for the company said that the part of the ride that broke was completely enclosed and could not be inspected visually.
Ferris wheel collapses; 15 injured
(Saturday, August 18, 2007) - A Ferris wheel collapsed at a fair in India, leaving 12 children and 3 adults with minor injuries. Witnesses said that the arms of the ride appeared to come loose.The ride operator was arrested. Police are investigating.
Ferris wheel catastrophe kills five
(Monday, August 13, 2007) - In one of the deadliest amusement ride accidents in modern history, five people were killed when a Ferris wheel car flipped upside-down at a fair in Busan, South Korea. The victims fell 65 feet. Four of them died at the scene and one died after being rushed to a local hospital. Among the victims were a 7-year-old boy and a 68-year-old woman. All of the victims were relatives.Two other passengers who were inside the car were able to cling to the ride's rim, 60 feet in the air, and were eventually rescued.
The ride, called the Giant Wheel, reaches heights of 216 feet. It consists of 42 gondolas.
Police are investigating.
Girl, 17, trapped underneath ride in attempt to exit before stop
(Monday, August 12, 2007) - At the Felixstowe Carnival at Langer Park in Suffolk (UK), a 17-year-old girl fell was injured when she attempted to exit a car on an amusement ride before it had stopped. Firefighters removed the car from the ride and freed the girl, whose foot was pinned underneath the car. The victim was taken to a hospital where she was treated for back injuries.
Carnival ride worker struck by ride
(Saturday, August 11, 2007) - At the Nevada County Fair in Nevada County, California, a high-speed whirling ride called Vortex struck a carnival worker in the head, knocking him unconscious for two minutes. According to witnesses, the man started the ride, then bent down to pick up a plastic cover that had fallen off one of the ride's lights.A helicopter transported the 30-year-old victim to a hospital, where he received some stitches and was released. He is an employee of Butler Amusements.
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Two dead in carnival ride crash
(Saturday, August 4, 2007) - A 48-year-old man and his 21-year-old son were killed when an amusement ride car broke off a ride at a carnival in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. The ride, called the Booster, consists of a giant arm with two four-passenger cars at each end. The arm revolves vertically around an axis and reaches speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. The victims' car detached and slammed into the ground. Two other people who were in the car were seriously injured.The second car was carrying two riders, both of whom were uninjured. They were left stranded 118 feet above the ground for six hours until rescue workers were able to free them by cutting through the ride's safety bars.
The ride passed a recent inspection.
Police are investigating.
Boy, 3, injured in 25-foot-fall from Ferris wheel
(Saturday, August 4, 2007) - At the State Line Heritage Days festival in Dayton, Ohio, a 3-year-old boy fell 25 feet from a Ferris wheel and landed on pavement. He suffered a fractured skull and was hospitalized in critical condition, but was expected to recover.The Ohio Department of Agriculture is investigating.
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Girl, 15, injured in fall from Coney Island ride
(Friday, August 3, 2007) - A 15-year-old girl suffered head and back injuries when she was thrown from the Polar Express ride at Coney Island amusement park in New York. Her injuries were not life-threatening. She was hospitalized in stable condition.The New York Department of Buildings is investigating.
Some witnesses said that the girl was waving to friends and may have tried to stand up. A Department spokesman said it appeared that the girl's safety bar broke while the ride was in motion.
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Girl, 6, injured in fall from Octopus ride
(Friday, August 3, 2007) - At Six Flags America theme park in Largo, Maryland, a 6-year-old girl was injured when she fell from the park's Octopus ride. Witnesses said that the girl stood up as the ride was in motion. Park officials say the girl fell about four feet. Some witnesses claim she fell over 15 feet.The girl was flown to a hospital for treatment of her injuries, which were considered to be relatively minor.
Two children ejected from Sizzler
(Wednesday, July 25, 2007) - At the Mercer County Fair in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, a 6-year-old boy and his 7-year-old brother were ejected from a Sizzler ride when their lap bar lifted while the ride was in motion. The 6-year-old fell to the ground and was struck in the head by the ride as it continued whirling. The 7-year-old landed about 20 feet away.According to the boys' mother, the operator was slow to respond to the situaiton. "We yelled 'stop the ride' forever, and he did not even know that they had been thrown out of it."
"They finally got it stopped after my husband and dad jumped over the gate while it was still in motion to get to my boys."
The 7-year-old suffered bruises. The 6-year-old suffered head trauma and received three staples to the back of his head.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture found that the lap bar failed because of a worn spring. The ride was ordered closed and the operator was ordered to replace the spring and latch mechanisms on all of the ride's cars.
RELATED STORIES -- SIZZLER RIDES:
Air Glory ride cited for 25 code violations; report suggests operator, not deficiences, to blame for death
Owner: operator "had a tendency not to lock the carabiner after attaching the rider to the ride."
(Friday, July 27, 2007) - The Air Glory freefall ride from which a girl fell to her death in Wisconsin on July 14 has been cited for 25 code violations by investigators who inspected the ride after the accident. Officials from the Wisconsin Commerce Department do not believe that the deficiencies contributed to the girl's death because the ride was operating properly at the time she was killed. However, one official said that the ride might have been red-tagged if the violations had been discovered before the accident. The ride was due for an inspection three days after the accident.Air Glory riders are secured into harnesses, attached to cables, then hoisted to the top of a crane where they pull a ripcord and experience momentary freefall in a swing-like ride through the air. When the victim pulled her ripcord, she fell 50 feet straight to the ground.
In a report issued today, investigators say that the girl's death was most likely the result of the operator's failure to make sure sure that a metal ring, called a carabiner, was locked.
While one of the citations was for the absence of a second carabiner, Commerce Secretary Mary Burke said that a second carabiner would not necessarily have prevented the girl's death.
"Carabiners do need to be locked properly whether there's one or there's two," said Burke.
"Certainly there's less opportunity of it happening if there were two."
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25. Code Section Violated: Comm 34.22 Passenger–carrying devices. (1) GENERAL. All passenger–
carrying devices shall be designed, assembled, operated and maintained in accordance with recognized safe
practices. Condition Found: This ride was operated using a single carabiner to connect each rider’s harness to the ride. Resolution: Similar rides operating in Wisconsin utilize 2 carabiners to attach harnesses to the ride. This ride’s harnesses shall be attached to the ride with a minimum of 2 carabiners. |
At the time of the accident, the owner of the Air Glory ride, Gary Ross, was working on the loading platform with another employee, who had been employed for only two weeks. In a shocking statement made to investigators, Ross said that the employee "had a tendency not to lock the carabiner after attaching the rider to the ride."
| "According to Mr. Ross, on Saturday, July 14, 2007, he and Derek Armelin were working on the platform harnessing in the riders on the giant swing at the time of the accident. Mr. Armelin was working on the right side of the platform, and Mr. Ross was working on the left side. Mr. Ross said that Mr. Armelin was a new employee having worked for Mr. Ross only about two weeks. Mr. Ross also said Mr. Armelin also had a tendency not to lock the carabiner after attaching the rider to the ride. Mr. Ross said he always worked on the left side when working with Mr. Armelin so that he (Mr. Ross) could check the carabiner before attaching the safety rope. Mr. Ross stated if the carabiner was locked, there would be no way it could come loose when a person was attached to it. Mr. Ross also said that if the carabiner was locked and if the safety rope was properly attached it would not be possible for anyone to come loose from the ride. This is consistent with the statements that Mr. Ross provided to the Oshkosh Police and with Commerce’s independent investigation." |
In response to the investigation, Air Glory, its owner, and any rides owned or operated by Air Glory, are prohibited from operating in Wisconsin until 2008. Alir Glory and its owner are also prohibited from operating any ride in Wisconsin for a at least five years unless the state inspects and approves any ride they seek to operate prior to its first use. In addition, state officials are enacting an emergency rule to minimize the possibility of operator error by setting out explicit requirements for rides that suspend riders with carabineers, harnesses, and wires. Finally, officials said that they will launch "a thorough review of the state's amusement ride safety program, reopen the rules governing amusement rides, solicit input, and evaluate other state’s programs to ensure that Wisconsin has the highest possible safety standard for amusement rides."
UPDATE: No criminal charges will be filed in connection to the accident. Detectives determined that the carabiner that attached the victim to the ride was not properly locked, allowing it to open during the ride. Also, a safety rope, which was intended to be a back-up safety device, was not properly attached to the harness.
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Police: Mind Scrambler operator knew victim was not seated properly
(Tuesday, July 24, 2007) - Westchester County police investigating the death of Gabriela Garin who was killed on the Mind Scrambler ride at Rye Playland last month say that Garin's 18-year-old co-worker knew that Garin was not seated or secured properly when he started the ride. The report states that Garin was kneeling on the seat of her car, completely turned around, and possibly swaying her arms to music when the ride was started. The report's findings are based on the accounts of eleven witnesses, all of whose statements were consistent."It would be difficult to believe that the ride operator did not know that Miss Garin was in the ride and not secured," said Westchester Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Belfiore.
Witnesses said that Garin was thrown from the car before the ride's second revolution.
The ride operator denied knowing that Garin was not wearing her selt belt when he started the ride. He no longer works at Playland.
Police found that the second operator's booth, which was added in response to another fatality in 2004, was rarely, if ever, staffed, and that most of the workers who operated the Mind Scrambler were unaware that there was a cut-off switch inside the booth. According to park policy, Garin should have been in the second station when the ride started. Playland policy also prohibits employees from riding during work hours.
Police also discovered that the victim had tried to ride the Mind Scrambler while not seated properly on at least one other occasion.
The medical examiner's office pronounced the death accidental. Police say that no criminal charges would be filed.
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Park worker dead after fall from roller coaster
(Tuesday, July 17, 2007) - An 18-year-old man died from injuries he suffered in a fall from the top of a roller coaster at the Loudoun Castle Theme Park in Ayrshire, Scotland on Sunday. The accident happened on the Rat, a steel roller coaster. Witnesses said that the man, who was visiting the park on his day off, saw that one of the ride's cars had stalled. He climbed to the top of the ride to push the car forward, but when it began to move, he was still hanging on to it. Within seconds he fell more than 50 feet. The car was occupied by three guests when the accident occurred.The Health and Safety Executive is investigating.
Inspector noted safety issues on Air Glory ride
- Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 19, 2007
- Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 19, 2007
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Girl, 16, falls to her death from freefall-type ride
(Saturday, July 14, 2007) - At a festival in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a teenage girl was killed after falling 40-50 feet from a freefall-type ride called Air Glory. Air Glory riders are secured into harnesses, attached to cables, then hoisted to the top of a crane where they pull a ripcord and experience momentary freefall in a swing-like ride through the air. Witnesses reported that when the ripcord was pulled, they heard a snapping sound, then watched the victim fall directly to the bare ground. The other rider remained swinging on the line and was not injured.On its website, the festival listed the ride as one of its "insane outdoor activities."
The ride was immediately shut down. Police, state inspectors, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.
Great America owner implements life jacket rule at all parks
- San Jose Mercury News, July 16, 2007
CBS 2/KCAL 9
'How could he drown?'
- San Francisco Chronicle, July 14, 2007
"That's a lie that there were six," Flores said. "There's four lifeguards there.
How can they not see my son? There's three walking and one sitting.
They weren't doing their job. He was in 2 feet of water. How could he drown?"
- San Jose Mercury News, July 16, 2007
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- San Francisco Chronicle, July 14, 2007
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Ride operator killed in path of swinging pendulum ride
(Sunday, July 8, 2007) - At Powerland Park in Ala-Härmä, Finland, a 24-year-old ride operator walked into the path of a giant swinging pendulum ride and was struck by the ride's spinning gondola. She was killed instantly.Park officials say that the woman was attempting to retrieve shoes that a passenger had left on the platform.
One rider suffered minor injuries in the accident.
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Worker who died on NY ride should have been in booth: officials
Associated Press, July 2, 2007
Safety rules not followed on ride that killed worker
Chicago Tribune, July 1, 2007
Ride operator killed in Scrambler accident at Rye Playland
(Friday, June 29, 2007) - At Rye Playland amusement park in Rye, New York, a 21-year-old woman was killed in an accident involving the Mind Scrambler ride. The woman was a ride operator who had worked at the park for 7 years. At the time of the incident, she and an 18-year-old co-worker were working as operators of the Mind Scrambler. Her co-worker had just arrived to assist her with her duties. According to the co-worker, the victim suggested that she collect tickets outside the ride and that the co-worker operate the controls in the control booth. By this time, the co-worker had already loaded all but three of the cars with passengers. The co-worker returned to the control booth and prepared to start the ride. Before the ride started, the victim returned with four more passengers. The co-worker left the booth to load the four onto the ride, but says that the victim told him that she would load the riders herself. As the victim was securing the last four passengers into two of the three unoccupied cars, some of the other riders who had been waiting became impatient and yelled for the ride to start. The co-worker started the ride, unaware that the victim was still in the ride's path. Within seconds, he realized what had happened and stopped the ride, but the woman had already been fatally injured.Some witnesses told police that the victim had boarded one of the ride's cars and that she was kneeling on the seat when the ride started. They say that she then appeared to stand up, before falling from the car and landing in the ride's path, where she was struck by at least one other car. The man who was operating the ride said that he thought that the victim was seated and secured properly. He also told investigators that the victim was also shouting for him to start the ride.
Rye Playland regulations specify that two operators are to be on duty during each ride cycle, and that neither operator may take rides. Park regulations also called for one operator to be in a second control booth where an emergency stop switch had been installed after a 2004 accident in which a 7-year-old girl was thrown from the Mind Scrambler and killed. Investigators are expected to determine why the operator started the ride if he believed that the victim had boarded the ride and the second control booth was unoccupied.
The victim was employed as a Mind Scrambler attendant at the time of the 2004 accident. Investigators concluded that the rider's death was a result of the her own failure to ride properly, as she was reportedly turned around, kneeling on her seat, waving to friends. There was no evidence that there was a mechanical malfunction or that park safety procedures were not followed by the ride operator. Although the park was not cited for any safety violations, the park announced that it would implement new safety regulations for the Mind Scrambler, including the addition of seat belts. Also, the second control booth was added along with new lighting to give ride attendants a better view of the ride area and the ability to see potential hazards.
The woman was an employee of S & L Amusements of Harrison, New York -- the company that leases the Mind Scrambler to Playland. The ride has been shut down and will remain closed for the rest of the year. It is unlikely that it will ever be reopened at Rye Playland. Park officials and local authorities are investigating.
In 2005, a 7-year-old boy died on Playland's "Ye Olde Mill," a dark ride that consists of a 1,200-foot tunnel through which passengers travel while riding in small boats. The boy somehow left his seat and for some reason either jumped or fell into the water. He died of blunt head trauma. Inspectors found no mechanical defects in the ride, however, park officials admitted that they are aware that some passengers ignore posted warnings and leave the boats to walk around inside the attraction.
In 1999, a 16-year-old ride attendant was fatally injured while working on a Scrambler ride at Lake Compounce amusement park in Bristol, Connecticut. Investigators found that
he 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.
He was left pinned underneath the ride until firefighters lifted it off of him. Although it was determined that the ride did not malfunction, the park was cited by OSHA
for serious violations of safety regulations.
Updated July 3, 2007 |
RELATED STORIES:
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- South Florida Sun-Sentinel, July 3, 2007
State inspectors found no mechanical problems with the ride.
The victim was hospitalized in intensive care and was reported to be in serious but stable condition.
The ride was shut down as a precaution, but inspectors found it to be operating properly, and no mechanical problems were found. An autopsy is planned for
Tuesday, which is expected to reveal that the girl's death was the result of a pre-existing medical condition.
The park is keeping the ride closed until the results of the girl's autopsy are known.
RELATED STORIES:
Inspectors from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Office of Consumer and Environmental Protection believe that the cable is to blame for the accident, but they are still
trying to determine why the cable snapped and how it got caught around the girl's legs.
The girl remains hospitalized, but there is no word on her condition.
Another Intamin drop tower at Grona Lund park in Sweden has also been shut down.
Superman Tower of Power is 177 feet tall. Its gondola is lifted upwards 12 mph to a height of 157 feet. When the gondola is dropped, it reaches a top speed of
54 miles per hour, and riders experience momentary freefall. The ride's braking system engages 20 feet from the ground, slowing the gondola to a stop.
According to one eyewitness account reported to WHAS-TV News, a cable snapped, and as the gondola dropped, it wrapped around the girl's legs.
The ride was manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland, although some of its parts are manufactured by other companies. It has been in operation at
Kentucky Kingdom since 1995.
The ride sustained significant damage and was shut down.
The ride will remain closed until park officials complete their investigation.
Firefighters used a ladder truck to rescue the riders. No one was injured, however one rider vomited and another
complained of a headache and neck pain.
The ride, called X-Coaster, was not immediately reopened once power was restored.
Water slides are exempt from Oklahoma state regulations and inspections, but the park says that a private company inspects all its slides, including
the Master Blaster, which passed its most recent inspection on Memorial Day weekend. The accident is under investigation.
"I'm a little perplexed at how the child drowned," said Lake Delton Police Chief Thomas Dorner.
The ride was closed for several hours to allow for an inspection by park maintenance workers. The evacuation platform was removed and the ride was reopened after
it was found to be in normal operating condition.
The ride has been shut down.
UPDATE: A Cedar Point spokesman says that the accident was caused "by excessive moisture on the tracks due to the heavy rain storms we
had in the morning." Magnum XL 200 reopened Sunday morning with only one train.
The carnival is operated by Tivoli Tuur. The carnival manager suggested that arson could be to blame, but no evidence of arson has been found in preliminary investigations.
The ride consists of twenty 2-passenger gondolas which are suspended from the outside of a wheel that is raised to a vertical position while spinning at high speed. The
fire broke out while the ride was operating at full speed.
A criminal investigation is also underway.
The ride passed its last inspection in Sweden last month.
The accident happened on the "Fujin Raijin II," a stand-up steel roller coaster. Its trains consist of six cars, each of which can hold four passengers who ride while
in a standing position. Investigators say that an axle on one of the cars broke, causing it to derail. Parts of the
wheel assembly were found underneath the ride.
The park reported that the train axles had not been inspected regularly, and had not been serviced
since February 2006.
Officials are investigating the accident. The park has been shut down.
The ride was manufactured by Togo in 1992.
The carnival operator is Reithoffer Shows.
A member of the boy's family says that the safety bar was not properly latched, and that the mother was trying to get the attention of the ride operator.
The Arkansas Department of Labor is investigating. The carnival operator is Jelly Saunders Original Razorback, Inc., of Judsonia, Arkansas.
The carnival operator is Coleman Brothers Shows.
Witnesses say that the ride was never shut down for inspection after the incidents.
The operator is Cullen's Funfair.
WorkSafe inspectors are investigating.
Murphy says that the ride passed a recent state inspection, and that there have been no incidents with the ride in the past. Inspectors say they tested the ride and tried to
re-create the incident, but were unable.
Witnesses say that ride operators pushed the children's car to the side of the ride, then immediately re-opened the ride. Hospital personnel contacted local police, who then
ordered the ride closed. Safety officials were called out to inspected the ride. They ordered the problem fixed, then allowed operators to re-open the ride.
The ride is operated by Pavier Family Amusements. The company's owner, Brenton Pavier, says that the problem was isolated to the one car.
"The whip wire got twisted, it was very unusual for it to get into that position but in bumper cars people bump into each other a lot," said Pavier.
Girl suffers critical head injury on spinning teacups ride
(Thursday, June 29, 2007) - A 13-year-old girl struck her head while riding a spinning teacup ride at Boomers amusement park in Dania Beach, Florida.
Witnesses say she appeared to look dizzy, and watched as her head fell backwards over the edge of her seat. The girl may have struck her head on the handle
of another teacup as the ride continued to run at full speed.
Girl, 14, dies at Disneyland Paris after roller coaster ride
(Monday, June 25, 2007) - At Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, a 14-year-old girl lost consciousness while riding the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.
The park's medical team tried to revive her, but their efforts were unsuccessful. She died before an ambulance arrived.
Albert Ceasar / The Courier-Journal via AP
UPDATES:
Teen injured on ride has one foot reattached - Associated Press, July 3, 2007
Frayed cable found on Carowinds ride inspected after KY accident - WSOC-TV, June 22, 2007Investigation focuses on cable
(Saturday, June 23, 2007) - The manufacturer of the Superman Tower of Power says it did not supply the cable that sliced off a girl's feet at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom on
Thursday. The ride's cables and wire ropes would have had the need for replacement at least several times since the ride opened in 1995, but those replacement parts
did not come from Intamin. The company says it has not supplied parts for the ride for 13 years.
Six Flags, Cedar Fair shut down all Intamin drop towers
(Friday, June 22, 2007) - Theme park operators Six Flags and Cedar Fair have announced that all drop towers similar to the one that malfunctioned at a Kentucky park
yesterday have been shut down. The rides, manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland, have been closed while investigators determine what caused the Superman Tower
of Power to malfunction at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. A 13-year-old girl had both of her feet severed when a cable broke and wrapped around her
legs. State inspectors are examining the ride. Six Flags and Cedar Fair say that, as a precaution, all Intamin drop towers will also be re-inspected.
Girl's feet severed on Superman Tower of Power at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
(Thursday, June 21, 2007) - At Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, a 13-year-old girl had both of her legs severed above the ankles while she was riding the
Superman Tower of Power freefall ride.
WXIA-TVSix Flags Kentucky Kingdom statement
Rideaccidents.comRoller coaster car derails at Geauga Lake
(Saturday, June 16, 2007) - At Geauga Lake amusement park in Aurora, Ohio, the rear car of a roller coaster train derailed.
The accident happened on the Raging Wolf Bobs roller coaster. The train failed to climb an incline and rolled backwards.
When it came to rest, park employees escorted all twenty-four passengers off the ride. No one was injured.
Rideaccidents.comRiders stranded for up to six hours atop Dollywood's 'Timber Tower'
(Saturday, June 16, 2007) - Thirty-eight riders were left stranded atop the 65-foot-tall Timber Tower ride at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
after a safety system engaged and stopped the ride at its highest point. Witnesses say that park maintenance workers spent over an hour trying to fix the ride on
their own, and by the time firefighters were called in and the evacuation began, riders had already been stranded for nearly two hours. Firefighters from two departments
were able to evacuate all of the riders safely. Six hours had passed by the time the last riders were evacuated. No one was injured.
CBS NewsPower outage leaves roller coaster riders stranded upside down
(Saturday, June 9, 2007) - At Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a power outage left 12 roller coaster riders
stranded upside down 150 feet in the air for 30 minutes.
Time to regulate inflatables?
- Honolulu Advertiser, June 11, 2007Inflatable tossed 50 yards offshore with 2-year-old inside
"It doesn't surprise me..."
- Morgan Hill,
Hawaii-based
inflatable manufacturer
CLICK HERE TO SEE RELATED STORIES
KOTV NewsWater slide section collapses; girl rescued
(Friday, June 8, 2007) - At Big Splash water park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a section of the Master Blaster water slide gave way with an 11-year-old girl
on it. The 6-foot fiberglass piece broke off and collapsed onto some netting that covered a lower section of the slide about 2 feet below. Park officials brought
the girl to safety. She was not injured.
Boy drowns in wave pool at Wisconsin water park
(Friday, June 8, 2007) - A 4-year-old boy drowned in a wave pool at the Wilderness Resort Hotel indoor water park in Lake Delton, Wisconsin.
At the time of the drowning, the pool's waves were not in motion, and lifeguards were on duty.
WKMG NewsDisney World ride platform fails; 6 injured
(Tuesday, May 29, 2007) - At Animal Kingdom theme park at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, six people were injured on the Kali River Rapids ride,
including a park employee. Reports indicate that a sensor triggered a shut down of the ride, leaving some boats stopped on an incline. During the evacuation
of the boats, a special platform that carries riders to the exit failed. The employee may have suffered a bone fracture. The five riders suffered only minor
injuries.
BBC NewsAnother inflatable ride topples; 2 injured
(Sunday, May 27, 2007) - A wind gust toppled a giant inflatable slide at a fair in South Wales. Two children suffered minor injuries. The Health and Safety Executive is
investigating.
CLICK HERE TO SEE RELATED STORIES
Magnum XL-200 roller coaster trains collide at Cedar Point
(Saturday, May 26, 2007) - At Cedar Point Park in Sandusky, Ohio, two roller coaster trains were involved in a minor collision on the park's
Magnum XL-200 roller coaster. The accident happened when one train failed to stop completely at a braking area toward the end of its run,
and continued to roll forward about 10 mph when it collided with a train that had already stopped. Fifty-nine people were on board the trains
at the time of the accident. Two riders were treated for minor injuries at the park's first aid center, and another was treated at a hospital for
asthma problems and released. The trains were slightly damaged in the accident.
VIDEO LINK:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=abb_1179665585
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aySJYgf8XZw
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8C4zhuUqZUEnterprise catches fire; 37 suffer burns
(Friday, May 18, 2007) - In Rakvere, Estonia, an Enterprise amusement ride somehow caught fire, leaving 37 people with burn and smoke inhalation injuries.
The victims, six of whom suffered serious injuries, were rushed to local hospitals where they were treated and released within 24 hours.
Associated PressRoller coaster car derails, crashes; 1 killed, 19 injured
(Saturday, May 5, 2007) - At Expoland theme park in Osaka, Japan, a 19-year-old woman was killed
instantly when a roller coaster car derailed and crashed into a guardrail. Another rider suffered a serious
head injury; 18 others suffered minor injuries.
Associated Press/Kyodo NewsUPDATE: Former park officials accept blame for fatal roller coaster accident (7/15/08)
Another inflatable ride blows away; 1 killed, 5 injured
(Thursday, May 3, 2007) - An 8-year-old boy died from injuries he suffered when an inflatable castle blew 90 feet through the air and crashed into a fence at a May Day
festival in Budapest on Tuesday. The boy was inside the castle with at least five other people who were injured.
Park worker killed in roller coaster accident
(Sunday, April 29, 2007) - At Legoland theme park in Billund, Denmark, a 21-year-old park worker was struck by a roller coaster car and killed. The woman was in a
restricted area when the accident happened. Witnesses say that she jumped a safety fence to retrieve a wallet that a passenger had lost near the track.
ReutersRide collapse injures 24
(Sunday, April 29, 2007) - Twenty-four people were injured when an amusement ride collapsed at an amusement park outside of Saint Omer, France. The accident
happened on the park's 'Parachut' ride. The ride, which is similar to the more commonly known "Paratrooper," lifts into the air and rotates. Witnesses say that some cars
were as high as 20-30 feet when the ride collapsed onto its platform. Most of the injuries were considered minor, but at least two people suffered serious injuries including
broken bones. Fifteen ambulances and three rescue helicopters responded to the scene.
WPVI 6ABC News, PhiladelphiaCarnival worker injured in fall from Fire Ball
(Sunday, April 22, 2007) - At a carnival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a carnival worker was seriously injured from a circular roller coaster-type ride called the
Fire Ball. Witnesses say the man went searching for a rider's cell phone and began to climb the ride's track. When he was about halfway up, the ride started
suddenly, dragging the man upward along the track and causing him to ultimately fall to the ground. he was hospitalized with serious injuries.
Train car derails at Memphis Zoo; 10 injured
(Saturday, April 21, 2007) - Two adults and eight children were injured when the last car of an amusement ride train uncoupled, derailed, and overturned at the Memphis Zoo
in Memphis, Tennessee. Offiicials are investigating the accident, which did not cause any serious injuries.
Sizzler accident kills 7-year-old
(Monday, April 9, 2007) - A 7-year-old boy died after he and his mother fell out of a Sizzler ride yesterday at a carnival in Hope, Arkansas. Witnesses say that the boy stood up
after falling to the ground and was struck by one of the ride's cars. He then stood up a second time and was struck in the head by another car. He died at a hospital hours later as
a result of traumatic brain injury.
Two injured on Tilt-A-Whirl
(Sunday, April 8, 2007) - At a carnival in Middletown, Connecticut, two people suffered minor injuries when the hood of a Tilt-A-Whirl car fell on them. According to state police
officials, the accident was the result of normal wear and tear on a metal clamp, and could not have been foreseen.
Officials investigating reports of accidents on carnival ride
(Saturday, March 24, 2007) - Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland is investigating reports of four teenagers suffering injuries in separate accidents on Thursday and Friday
evenings at a carnival in Newry, Ireland. All four teenagers received hospital treatment following the accidents. They claim they were thrown from a high-speed ride called
"Hump-It." One victim, a 13-year-old boy, was treated at a hospital after he fell out of his car and struck a metal post. The boy's head split open and he needed five staples
to close the 2-inch gash. A spokesman for the hospital confirmed that four people had been treated for injuries sustained at the carnival.
Carowinds employees injured in roller coaster test
(Saturday, March 18, 2007) - Seven Carowinds employees suffered minor injuries while test riding the BORG Assimilator roller coaster at Paramount's Carowinds theme park
in Charlotte, North Carolina. According to park officials, the ride operator unlocked the pins that hold the seats in place as the train was leaving the station, causing the seats to
shift position.
Two hurt while dismantling ride
(Thursday, March 13, 2007) - In Melbourne, Australia, two men were injured when a carnival ride carriage fell onto them as they were dismantling it.
They were rescued by co-workers and later treated at a local hospital.
Riders say they slipped from fair ride
(January 23, 2007) - Two teenagers say they slipped from their seats on a ride called 'Xtasy' at the Manatee County Fair in Palmetto, Florida. According to the teens, their padded
shoulder harnesses swung over their heads suddenly, leaving them clutching onto their seat restraints while suspended about 20 feet in the air. The teens say that the ride attendant
did not check their restraints when they boarded the ride. They say that the operator finally stopped the ride and proceeded to lock their harness, but the two exited the ride instead.
The teens reported the incident to Mighty Blue Grass Shows manager James Murphy, who refunded their money.
Two children suffer burn injuries on bumper car ride
(January 5, 2007) - Two children suffered burns when a bumper car malfunctioned at a carnival in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. Witnesses say that the whip on the back of the car started
to burn, then broke into pieces and showered embers on the children. The children were rushed to a hospital where one was treated for burns on her hand and the other for burns
on his back and neck.
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