From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at various independently-owned U.S. amusement parks. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant impact on the parks or park operations, or are otherwise significantly newsworthy.
The term incidents refers to major accidents, injuries, or deaths that occur at an independently-owned park. While these incidents were required to be reported to regulatory authorities due to where they occurred, they usually fall into one of the following categories:
- Caused by negligence on the part of the guest. This can be refusal to follow specific ride safety instructions, or deliberate intent to break park rules.
- The result of a guest's known or unknown health issues.
- Negligence on the part of the park, either by ride operator or maintenance.
- Act of God or a generic accident (eg slipping and falling), that is not a direct result of an action on anybody's part.
- Of the 1.4 million visitors to the park in 2006, 55 people were injured at Hersheypark during the year, none seriously.[1]
- On May 31, 2003, 32-year-old Tamar Fellner of New York City, New York died after falling out of the ride vehicle during the ride's 69-foot drop. Witnesses told investigators they saw Fellner standing up in the car as it neared the drop. An investigation after the accident showed that Fellner's seat restraints were working correctly. The coroner's office ruled Fellner's death as accidental.[2]
- On March 2, 1999, an attorney representing two girls who sustained injuries while riding a water slide at a Pennsylvania amusement park discovered a history of complaints of injuries made by riders after they had ridden the same ride. Fifteen injuries had 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. The tort lawsuit filed sought $9,200 in medical costs and at least $50,000 in damages on behalf of one girl, age 11. The suit also sought $5,300 in medical costs and at least $100,000 in damages on behalf of the other girl, age 12. The park was 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. [3]
- On June 13, 2003, a man was seriously injured in a 30-foot-fall from the Scenic Skyway chairlift ride at Knoebels Amusement Park. The man was a member of a group home for mentally disabled people and was riding alone. The man was airlifted to a local hospital and recovered. The ride opened just 2 weeks prior to the accident. Inspectors found no problems with the ride. [4]
- On May 22, 2006, 39-year-old Tommy Lee of Lakeville, Minnesota suffered a bruised spinal cord while attempting to ride the FlowRider wave ride on a boogie board. He had two titanium screws and a plate inserted into his neck to stabalize vertebrae and relieve pressure on his spinal cord. Doctor reports stated that Lee was almost paralyzed, but he has regained some movement in his limbs shortly after surgery.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ "Amusement parks report more thrills, fewer spills", The Patriot-News, 2006-12-18. Retrieved on 2006-12-18.
- ^ "Witnesses: Victim stood up in coaster", Cincinatti Enquirer, 2003-06-05. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
- ^ "Knoebels water slide brings injuries, lawsuits", Ride Accidents, 1999-03-02. Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
- ^ "Man falls from Scenic Skyway at Knoebels", Ride Accidents, 2003-06-13. Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
- ^ "Lakeville man's spinal cord bruised in water park accident", AP, 2006-05-26. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
