is the world's single most comprehensive, detailed, updated, accurate, and complete source of amusement ride
accident reports and related news. The site includes a record of fatal amusement ride accidents in the United
States since 1972, and, for the past
ten years, has recorded all types of accidents, including many from outside the United States. The number of injuries and fatalities
recorded at this site does not reflect the total number of injuries and deaths that have occurred as a result of amusement ride
accidents. RideAccidents.com is a nonprofit operation, and is not affiliated with any government agency, amusement industry
organization, or consumer advocacy group. Please send questions, comments, and news to Jared Costanza at
rides911@aol.com.
Islands of Adventure worker struck by roller coaster
(July 1, 2009) - A Universal Studios Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida, a park worker
was injured while working at the Dueling Dragons roller coaster before the park opened to the public.
Another employee called 911 and reported that the victim was "hit by one of the ride vehicles at Dueling
Dragons" and was unresponsive.
The victim was rushed to a hospital.
The ride opened after park officials determined that it was operating properly.
(June 29, 2009) - At a carnival in Buchanan, Virginia, three teenagers fell 15-20 feet when an Octopus ride malfunctioned and their car fell to the ground.
Inspectors discovered that a bracket had broken, apparently due to excessive wear. The bracket cracked in a place that was not visible during routine
inspections and would have been discovered only if the ride had been disassembled.
One of the teens suffered minor injuries.
The ride is owned and operated by Magic Midway of Georgia.
"I could have died."
- 11-year-old Tyler Maloney, who flipped 40 feet into the air when an inflatable ride went flying in the wind
“They were blowing end to end — over a car, over fences."
“That could have been anyone’s child in there."
- Linda Tucker, witness
Linda Tucker via Middletown Journal
Another inflatable ride accident sends boy flying; several injured
(June 27, 2009) — In Middletown, Ohio, an inflatable ride went flying 40 feet into the air with
an 11-year-old boy inside, who escaped serious injury by hanging on until bystanders stabbed
the ride with knives, deflating it.
Several other children suffered minor injuries when they were bumped or scraped by the ride
as it flipped several times during its flight.
Massachusetts inflatable provider charged with manslaughter
(June 25, 2009 ) - A Massachusetts-based company has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a woman who fell from an inflatable climbing wall
and died from her injuries several days later. The company, Just for Fun Rentals, operated the device at a festival in May, 2005.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety (DPS), the company did not operate the attraction properly, did not properly train the attendant,
did not keep proper records as required by state, and did not have a permit to operate the attraction. The DPS also says that its inspectors were unable to inspect
the wall because Just For Fun Rentals did not notify the state of its intention to operate the attraction, as required by law.
A spokesman for the company denies criminal wrongdoing and said that he expects the company to be fully exonerated.
(May 25, 2009) - At the Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Florida, a 7-year-old boy
was seriously burned when his go-kart tipped over and caught fire. He was airlifted to a hospital
where he is being treated for second-degree burns on nearly half of his body.
The go-kart is owned by the victim's family.
Park worker killed in roller coaster accident
(May 18, 2009) - At PortAventura theme park in Tarragona, Spain, a 55-year-old maintenance worker was struck by a train
of roller coaster cars and killed. The victim was carrying out routine maintenance on the Tomahawk, a wooden roller coaster.
The ride was shut down temporarily, but reopened hours later after investigators determined that the ride itself had not
malfunctioned.
Teen drowns at Wet 'N' Wild Waterworld
(May 15, 2009) - At Wet 'N' Wild Waterworld in Anthony, Texas, a 14-year-old boy was found
at the bottom of a swimming pool. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital after revival attempts
by lifeguards and emergency responders failed.
An autopsy is planned.
Associated Press
Boy, 2, killed by roller coaster after climbing onto track
(May 12, 2009) - At the Ducketts Common funfair in north London, England, a 2-year-old boy was killed
after he climbed onto the track of a kiddie roller coaster and got struck by the
oncoming cars. Witnesses said that the boy exited a bouncy castle where he had been playing,
then made his way to the adjacent Go-Gator roller coaster, which was only a few yards away.
There was a barrier between the two attractions, but investigators believe that the boy
either slid through them or underneath them.
Emergency workers rushed the boy to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A spokesman for the carnival told reporters that the ride operator activated the emergency
stop, but that "nobody saw the little boy until the train hit him," and it was too late.
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating. The carnival has been shut down.
The carnival was operated by JEA Manning and Sons.
Accident closes flume ride at Hersheypark
(May 9, 2009) - At Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a pipe break on the Coal Cracker log flume ride
caused several boats to bump into each other. One woman was evaluated at a local hospital and released.
The ride was shut down after the incident but was expected to reopen later in the week.
"We can preliminarily say it was a mechanical issue," said a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture.
“I want people to know that we take safety very seriously, we always have.
I want people to feel comfortable that I operate and maintain all my attractions
with safety in mind... I cannot stress enough, the ride was properly registered
and permitted. I went to the state and pulled documents (the inspection and maintenance
history of the ride) when I bought it." - Harry Mason, owner of Midway of Fun / Brass Ring Amusements
(May 2, 2009) - An 8-year-old suffered minor injuries in a fall from a mechanical swing ride at a carnival
in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Investigators believe that the child was began to come out of the swing
as the ride was slowing to a stop.
“There was no apparent malfunction of the machinery,” said a fair spokesman, and the child's size was
not thought to be a contributing factor in the accident.
The ride passed a state inspection two weeks ago.
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News
Carnival ride tips over; 6 injured
(April 17, 2009) - At the Puyallup Spring Fair in Puyallup, Washington, five children and one adult suffered
minor injuries when a kiddie ride called the Lolly Swing tipped over. Fourteen children were on the ride at
the time of the accident, most of whom suffered minor cuts or bruises.
The ride was manufactured by Zamperla of Italy and is operated by Funtastic Traveling Shows of Portland, Oregon.
It passed a state inspection on Wednesday.
Inspectors said it could take weeks before the exact cause of the accident is determined. Some have
suggested the possibility that the ground, which had become saturated with rain, may have collapsed under
the weight of the ride.
According to the Seattle Times, a Lolly Swing tipped over in Hollywood, Florida in 1997, injuring five
people. That accident was blamed on metal fatigue.
"Bhargava did the bungee jumping, thinking that all the instruments are strong and safe...
But it was his fate that the clasp wrenched off the string and he plunged to death." - Abhishek Pesala, relative of 25-year-old V. Bhargava
Safety cord snaps during bungee jump; 25-year-old killed
(April 11, 2009) - In Bangalore, India, a 25-year-old man was killed in a 150-foot-fall when a safety belt snapped during a bungee jump.
Police said that the event organizers did not have a license to operate a bungee jump. Two event organizers have been arrested and charged with negligence.
(April 10, 2009) - A 27-year-old woman was injured when an amusement ride car collapsed at the Chapelfield Gardens Easter fair in Norwich (UK).
The woman suffered a fractured lumbar vertebrae and was hospitalized.
The accident happened on a ride called Jumpin' Frog, which consists of rotating hydraulic arms that rise and fall as they rotate through the air.
The victim stated that the accident happened as the ride was coming to a stop. She said that the cars had just begun to slowly lower to the ground
when hers collapsed suddenly.
The ride passed subsequent safety checks and was reopened.
WOIO-TV
Woman struck by amusement ride suffers serious injuries
(April 10, 2009) - At a carnival inside the International Exposition Center in Cleveland, Ohio, a woman
was struck by a ride that had started before she exited to the platform. The woman had boarded the Hurricane
ride and been secured into her seat, but then changed her mind and asked to leave the ride. A ride operator
unlatched her safety bar and and allowed her to exit the car. The ride started before the woman left the
ride's path. She was struck and knocked to the floor. She suffered a broken pelvis, wrist, and collarbone;
4 broken ribs, and a punctued lung. She was hospitalized in intensive care and was listed in serious condition.
The ride operator is on administrative leave.
The ride was passed state and city inspections prior to the opening of the fair. It was temporarily closed until state inspectors deemed it safe for operation.
(Monday, March 24, 2009) - After two days of testimony in a wrongful-death civil trial, the parents
of 7-year-old Jon-Kely Cassara, who died at Playland Park in 2005, have agreed to settle their lawsuit
against the park's owner, Westchester County, for $1.25 million. Westchester County also agreed to established
a scholarship in the boy's name.
Cassara fell from his boat as it was traveling through Ye Old Mill, an indoor boat ride. The boy, who was allowed
to ride without an adult, exited his boat during the ride, and fell. He died from a blunt head injury. His
body was found in the channel.
The County was accused of negligence in the boy's death because the ride was understaffed at the time he died.
Joseph Montalto, the director of Playland at the time of the accident, testified that the ride should not have
been operating with only two operators, and that only one of the two workers operating the ride was licensed to
do so. Montalto also acknowledged a statement he made in a 2007 deposition that "Jon-Kely Cassara should not have
been permitted to be on that ride."
KCRA, Sacramento
Yo-Yo owner faulted for "serious maintenance deficiencies" in ride collapse
(Friday, March 13, 2009) - The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has issued a
report that faults the owner of a Yo-Yo amusement ride for its collapse. Brass Ring Amusements, also known
as Midway of Fun, operated the ride at a fair last May. The company is owned by Harry Mason, who is faulted
by investigators for operating the ride with significant maintenance deficiencies. Twenty-one riders were
injured when the ride suddenly collapsed.
Among OSHA findings:
The sweeps of YO-YO C#3041 "collapsed" because the spider bearing assembly slipped off of the
cylinder rod, thus losing the power to pull down the sweep's top ends. This happened because the
two lock nuts that were holding down the spider bearing assembly rotated off and disengaged
from the threaded end of the cylinder rod.
Failure analysis performed by Anamet concluded, as did the Division, that at the time of the
accident, the lock nuts had disengaged from the threaded end of the cylinder rod of the spider
assembly. Further results of the Anamet study have lead the Division to make the following conclusions:
The lock nuts loosened and rotated off because of the failure of a lock washer designed to hold
the lock nuts in place and keep them from rotating. The lock washer had 19 outer tabs and one inner tab.
As designed, one of the outer tabs was bent 90 degrees upward and fitted into a slot in the upper
lock nut. The inner tab of the lock washer was bent 90 degrees downward and fitted into a keyway
in the cylinder rod. The lock washer failed because the inner tab fractured and broke off of it.
The accident occurred on YO-YO C#3041 because it was operating with a lock washer that had
lost its ability to prevent a loosening rotation of the lock nut when the inner tab broke away
from the lock washer. Examination of the fractured tab under magnification indicated that it failed
suddenly in a manner that could only have occurred during service on the spider assembly when
the lock washer was rotated clockwise with the upper lock nut while the lock nut was being
tightened. The inner tab that was fixed in the cylinder rod keyway broke away from the lock
washer inner face as it followed the movement of upper lock nut during the tightening of the lock
nut. Thread imprints on the fracture face indicate that the lock washer rotated clockwise about
1/2-inch while the inner tab was kept captive in the keyway of the shaft onto which the nut was being
tightened.
It is evident through statements and documentation... and by observation of the physical
state of disrepair the ride was in at the time of the accident, that this attraction had not
been properly maintained... prior to the accident. Furthermore, Mr. Mason, as a ride owner,
failed to become familiar enough with the YO-YO attraction to establish, implement and document
a comnprehensive safety program of inspection and repair in accordance with Chance specifications
and applicable Title 8 regulations, in order to safely operate the YO-YO.
While conducting the accident investigation, the Division observed significant maintenance
deficiencies on Yo-YO C#3041.
More than 14 electrical deficiencies were found, involving loose and exposed electrical conductors.
Most of these electrical wiring problems could be observed without the removal of scenery panels.
The hydraulic system had leaks, and several pressure gauges were missing on the main hydraulic unit.
A separate and temporary hydraulic unit was being used during the assembly process.
A large amount of oily residue was found throughout the attraction.
Seven of the chairs were out of service, and many of the recent welds still contained slag
that prevented employees from performing proper inspections.
5-year re-build as per Chance Service Bulletin #B376R1077-0 (Effective Date: May 16, 1990).
Records supplied by Mr. Mason did not indicate that this re-build had been performed.
Chance Bulletin #B376CRM146-A (Effective Date: March 21, 2006) was not performed.
The required tag on the hydraulic cylinder containing all the necessary information that
is required by Chance was missing at the time of the accident.
The information that is steel-stamped into the barrel of the cylinder and identifies the
cylinder and part number was covered and not able to be identified at the time of the accident.
Midway of Fun's maintenance training program in place at the time of the YO-YO accident failed
to follow the ASTM F770-06 as required by the California Labor Code section 7916(a). ASTM F770-06
section 6.1 requires each Owner/Operator of an amusement ride or device to read and become familiar
with the contents of the manufacturer's recommended maintenance instructions and specifications,
when received.
Midway of Fun's Owner/Operator (Mr. Mason) did not read and become familiar with all of the YO-YO
ride's instructions and specifications when he received the attraction and, as a result, failed to
implement a program of maintenance based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Furthermore, the
maintenance program in place was not maintained.
Had Midway of Fun's maintenance program been sufficient, the YO-YO would have been inspected
and maintained to conform to all of Chance's specifications. On inspection that would have been
performed was the inspection called for by CRM Bulletin B#376CRM146-A, dated March 21, 2006.
That bulletin advised all owners immediately and annually thereafter to inspect the sweep lift
cylinder bearing assembly and its connection to the sweep lift cylinder rod to ensure that the parts
are functioning properly and that the lock nut connection is secure. According to Mr. Mason,
this inspection was never performed while Midway of Fun operated YO-YO C#3041. If the inspection
had been performed as called for by the bulletin, it is possible that the loosening of the lock nut
would have been detected before it led to the lock nut spinning completely off the assembly.
Mr. Mason had previously worked with and operated another YO-YO attraction (C#17371) for
Midway of Fun in 2001 at the Sacramento County Fair, and was familiar with YO-YOs enough to have
known that a 5-year re-build was required. In 2001, while inspecting YO-YO C#17371, the Division
discovered that the YO-YO's hydraulic cylinder 5-year certification had expired. Mr. Mason was
instructed to correct the situation and was instrumental in calling Chance to receive a one time
extension, for a short number of days, to operate before sending the cylinder back for its re-build.
The manufacturer of this attraction does not have a record of any inquiries or requests from
Midway of Fun for updated operating manuals, attraction bulletins, or maintenance records.
... The Owner/Operator, Harry Mason of Midway of Fun, failed to ensure that his YO-YO attraction was
safe to operate when he first received the attraction. As a result, he operated an attraction that
did not have all of the required inspections, certifications, and documentation in place to ensure
its safe operation.
Infant critically injured after fall from kiddie train ride
(Tuesday, March 10, 2009) - At a mall in Cutler Bay, Florida, a 12-month-old boy suffered severe head injuries when he fell 2-3 feet
from a mechanical kiddie train. He landed on his head, then was partially run over by the train before it could be stopped. Rescue
workers arrived to find the child unconscious and unable to breathe on his own. They began CPR, revived him, then transported him
via helicopter to Miami Children's Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
The Miami-Dade Police Department is investigating the accident and the ride has been shut down.
UPDATE: The boy died from his injuries on March 17, 2009.
(Sunday, March 8, 2009) - At Jeepers amusement center in Albany, New York, several children suffered minor injuries after
a wheel of a kiddie roller coaster car broke, causing the ride to stop abruptly in the middle of its run. Two children were
treated for cits and bruises at a hospital; the others were treated at the scene.
The ride was shut down, pending repairs and an inspection.
(Sunday, February 15, 2009) - At the Tourism and Trade Fair in Chennai, India, 4 people were injured when a roller coaster car derailed.
Reports indicate that two sections of track rails separated when a bolt that held them together came off.
Flickr.com
Man dead after fall from roller coaster
(Saturday, February 14, 2009) - A 37-year-old man was killed after falling 30-40 feet from a roller coaster at Star City theme park in Pasay City, Philippines.
The accident happened on a compact, inverted-type roller coaster called the Star Flyer.
Park officials say that the ride's safety system was operating properly at the time of the incident, and that it is impossible for someone to fall from the ride
unless he intentionally eluded the restraint harness before it was locked.
According to a ride attendant, the victim had asked whether falling from the ride would be fatal. Several witnesses reported seeing the man escaping from his
harness as the ride began.
A lawyer for the park said that there was "no failure in the safety mechanism of the Star Flyer" that caused the victim's death. The man's restraint device
was found in the locked position after the incident. Police are investigating.
(Thursday, February 5, 2009) - At the Collier County Fair in Naples, Florida, a 16-year-old girl fell 20 feet
from an amusement ride called the Avalanche. She was hospitalized with five broken ribs and a bruised lung.
One witness says that the girl's harness opened when the ride was at its highest point.
The Avalanche consists of a 24-passenger gondola that circles through the air vertically. It is operated by Reithoffer Shows,
and passed a state inspection before the fair opened on Thursday.
The Florida Department of Consumer Services is investigating the accident.
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom lawsuit settled
(Friday, November 21, 2008) - Six Flags has reached a settlement with the family of 15-year-old Kaitlyn Lasitter, whose legs were severed on the 'Superman Tower of Power' freefall ride
at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom theme park in 2007. The girl's parents alleged that the park was negligent in inspecting, testing, maintaining and operating the ride.
Investigators concluded that it was impossible to pinpoint why a cable snapped, but that Lasitter's injuries would have been limited to "cuts and scrapes" if the ride operator had
immediately hit the ride's emergency stop button. They also said that the accident might have been avoided altgether had park workers followed the ride manual's instructions for
detecting deterioration in the cable.
Six Flags denied all responsibility for the accident.
A settlement was also reached in a claim filed by Six Flags against the ride's manufacturer, Intamin, Ltd.
WLTX News 19, Columbia
Ride worker killed in accident at South Carolina fair
(Sunday, October 19, 2008) - At the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia, South Carolina, a 51-year-old maintenance worker was killed
in a freak accident involving a carnival ride called the Inverter. The man was crushed by a 10,000-pound counter-weight as it swung through
a danger zone at the base of the ride. The victim was attempting to retrieve a tape measure that was left in the area, which was not visible
to the public.
The death has been ruled accidental.
CPSC, Chance announce recall to inspect and repair YO-YO amusement rides
(Tuesday, October 7, 2008) - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Chance Rides Manufacturing Inc. (CRM), of Wichita, Kansas is voluntarily recalling to
inspect and repair about 85 YO-YO amusement rides across the country. CPSC has received reports of two incidents involving the YO-YO ride resulting in injuries to children and adults,
including scraped knees and back strains. On May 16, 2008, 23 riders of a YO-YO ride in Angels Camp, Calif. fell to the ground when the sweep arms suspending the circular swinging chairs
they were riding in broke free from the ride’s center cylinder rod. The inspection program will focus on preventing future failures.
CRM is offering ride owners and state safety officials inspection/repair kits and new inspection and maintenance guidelines. CPSC is working with state regulators and insurance providers
to ensure that these safety inspections and modifications are conducted. While CPSC has jurisdiction over mobile amusement rides and conducts incident investigations, states and local
communities are responsible for inspections and oversight of rides such as the YO-YO.
Ride mishap leaves mother, girl dangling from ride
(Saturday, October 4, 2008) - At a carnival in Port Orange, Florida, a mother and her 2-year-old daughter were left dangling from an amusement ride that started without warning
as children were exiting the ride. The woman was lifted about 20 feet into the air, holding her daughter in one arm and hanging on to the Crazy Bus ride with her
other arm. The woman eventually let her daughter fall into the arms of bystanders who easily caught her. Firefighters used a ladder to lower the woman to safety.
Neither the woman nor her daughter was seriously injured.
(Saturday, August 30, 2008) - A 20-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition after he entered a restricted area underneath a roller coaster and was struck by the ride.
The accident happened at Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in Valencia, California. Witnesses said that the man lost his hat while he was riding the Ninja roller coaster,
then climbed over two security fences to retrieve it.
Fair ride stalls; dozens evacuated
(August 24, 2008) - At the Schueberfouer fair in Luxembourg, an amusement ride called "XTreme" broke down,
leaving 29 riders suspended in the air for up two hours. All of the riders were evacuated safely; no one was injured.
Watch evacuation:
Sizzler ride collapses at Wisconsin fair
(August 15, 2008) - At the Price County Fair in Phillips, Wisconsin, a sweep rod fell off a Sizzler ride, causing the ride to partially collapse.
Four passenger cars fell to the ground and hit a metal platform. Several people were injured.
The ride was operated by Spectrum Entertainment. Fair officials said that the accident was the third in four years where a ride malfunctioned, often injuring patrons,
and that Spectrum would not return to the fairgrounds.
Kiddie ride malfunction injures girl, 5
(Saturday, August 6, 2008) - At the Wisconsin State Fair, a kiddie ride malfunctioned, injuring a 5-year-old girl.
The accident happened when the girl's car derailed and crashed into a fence, leaving her with a bruised knee and
injuries to her neck, back and elbow. The girl was treated at a local hospital, but her injuries were not serious.
The ride, called Badlands 4x4, is operated by Murphy Brothers Exposition.
KPIX News CBS 5, San Francisco
Two injured in ride mishap
(Monday, August 4, 2008) - At the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, California, two people suffered
minor injuries when part of a whirling amusement ride called the Cyclone struck them. Witnesses said that the
ramp which leads passengers on to the platform came loose. A 9-year-old boy who was on the ride suffered a leg
injury, and a woman who was running away from the ride was struck by debris; neither of the two was seriously
injured.
The accident also caused minor damage to the ride itself.
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating.
(Tuesday, July 15, 2008) - At Liseberg theme park in Göteborg, Sweden, between 20 and 30 people were injured
when a ride called the Rainbow collapsed. Thirty-six people were on board the ride, which consists of a rotating
vertical arm with a platform connected to one end. Some riders were thrown from the platform, but none suffered
any life-threatening injuries. Three people were hospitalized with injuries including rib and pelvis fractures.
Rainbow rides ordered shut down
(July 21, 2008) - The Rainbow amusement ride that collapsed at Liseberg theme park last Tuesday
was dismantled over the weekend by investigators who discovered a faulty drive shaft during their
inspection. Investigators now believe that the accident was caused by the failure of one of the axles
that is designed to hold the passenger carriage horizontal. The drive shaft had been replaced by Huss Maschinenfabrik,
the ride's manufacturer, in 2003. The drive shaft is fully enclosed, and therefore is excluded from the
park's regular maintenance procedures. It can only be inspected by Huss. According to the
ride specifications, the drive shaft has an operational life of 5,000 running hours. The axle that failed had
run for only about 3,500 hours. In light of the investigation, Huss has ordered the temporary closure of
its 40 Rainbow amusement rides throughout the world.
(Thursday, July 17, 2008) - A 4-year-old boy was injured on kiddie ride at the Three Rivers Festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Witnesses said it appeared the boy was scared and tried to get off the ride while it was still in motion. He fell, and was run
over 2 or 3 times by other cars. The ride, commonly known as a Hampton kiddie ride, consists of miniature cars that rotate
in a circle at slow speed. The ride is owned by J&J Amusements.
Park worker in critical condition after roller coaster accident
(Sunday, July 13, 2008) - A 21-year-old man suffered a critical head injury when he was struck by a roller coaster
at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Park officials said that he was attempting to retrive a child's hat
that landed in a restricted area underneath the Star Jet roller coaster, and that he may have been walking along the
side of the track when a car struck him. The man was airlifted to a hospital where he was listed in critical condition.
UPDATE: On July 16, it was announced that the man died from his injuries.
8-year-old ejected from ride, in coma
(Sunday, July 13, 2008) - A 8-year-old boy suffered critical injuries when he was thrown from the Teacups ride at
Sommerland amusement park in Fårup, Denmark. Investigators reported that the rubber safety stop, which prevents the
doors of the car from opening, may have malfunctioned.
UPDATE: The ride reopened two days later, after the park installed metal plates to each car that are designed to
keep the doors of the Teacups from opening while the ride is in motion.
Roller coaster car derails, crashes to pavement; 4 injured
(Friday, July 4, 2008) - At Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus, Denmark, four people were injured in an
accident on the Cobra, an inverted roller coaster. A park official reported that the first car
detached from the train and fell to the pavement underneath the ride. The victims were hospitalized
with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Cobra is a new ride that opened in June. It reaches a maximum height of 70 feet and a top speed
of 40 miles per hour.
The ride has been shut down while investigators determine what caused the accident.
Early reports indicate that a broken axle may be to blame.
Park Statement:
Cobra operation indefinitely suspended due to accident
Last night, Friday, shortly before the close of business at 11:00pm, there was a serious accident involving the
park's new roller coaster, Cobra. The front car of the train, in which two passengers were sitting, fell from the
other cars down to the pavement. In total, four people were injured in the accident. The passengers have injuries
and fractures and information from authorities indicates that no one will have any lasting physical injuries.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. Technological Institute, in cooperation with police and
Tivoli Frehedens technicians, are working to find the cause for this deeply unfortunate incident. It is clear however,
that there was a mechanical problem and not a human error. Cobra is now closed and it is unclear what to do with the
ride in the future.
Tivoli Frehedens is open as usual to the public.
Man injured in fall from Swinger
(Tuesday, July 1, 2008) - A man was seriously injured when he fell from a Swinger ride at a carnival.
The ride is operated by McNair Amusements of Loganville. It passed an inspection when the carnival opened on Monday.
