Story:A woman drowned when the inflatable boat she was in unexpectedly deflated and overturned in 2 to 3 feet of water and she was trapped underneath. On November 15, 2018, a girl's mother from. What happened: The world's largest triple-loop indoor roller coaster crashed when four bolts came loose, allowing a wheel assembly to fall off the roller . "The rear up-stop wheel, which prevents the train from lifting, came up on top of the rail," DCA spokeswoman Lisa Ryan said. Furthermore, it is unclear what steps the park will take to ensure that an accident of this type does not reoccur. It was the third violent incident of the day, following two earlier unrelated stabbings. On June 8, 2002, a 4-year-old girl was critically injured when she slipped beneath the restraining bar and fell from the Starfish ride while riding with her mother, receiving critical head injuries. Several people were taken to the hospital after firefighters picked them up using cherry pickers. On June 23, 2021, a fight between six and eight people broke out in the parking lot. On March 21, 1999, 28-year-old Valeria Cartwright of. In 2001, a 13-year-old boy was ejected from the ride due to a faulty lap bar and suffered broken bones in his head, pelvis, and legs. In May 2018, when a man exited the attraction, he suffered serious injuries after stepping on a piece of bamboo which went through his shoe, penetrating through the sole of his right foot. On August 25, 1999, 28 passengers were stranded on the. It has been established that the cause of the fire was due to a short circuit. El Toro was shut down for two weeks after inspectors found a defective ground fault circuit interrupter nearthe roller coaster's 181-foot lift hill, according to the inspection records, obtained throughan Open Public Records Act request. The employee was reportedly found underneath the attraction in a restricted area, appearing to have suffered head trauma. On September 6, 2009, the body of a Pennsylvania man, William Sutherland, was found in one of the small lakes located inside of the parking lot. 32 people were injured, and one of the students died. On September 10, 2016, at 1:30p.m., an unspecified phone threat caused an evacuation of the park, though a security sweep did not detect any suspicious activity. On September 8, 2014, a fire broke out atop Colossus's lift hill. The rules required riders to have both legs safely secure when boarding the train. The accident happened on the "El Toro" roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, just before the park closed for the night, NBC 4 reported. The girl was scarred by the phone and her family pushed Six Flags to be more strict on loose articles aboard their attractions. In some cases, these incidents occurred while the park was under different management or ownership. On July 23, 1974, the victim filed a $250,000 lawsuit to cover medical expenses, lost past and future wages, and for "anguish" caused by a "disfiguring" facial scar. On May 26, 2002, a 58-year-old Six Flags foreman was struck in the head and killed by the dangling legs of a passenger after he wandered into the ride's path after entering a locked, no-access area during the ride's operation. On April 28, 1985, two passengers were left stranded on one of the parachutes for more than an hour as its weight was moving too slow and hit another cable nearby. In August 2019, a paraplegic man who had a spinal cord injury was grievously injured when his legs became unsecured during the ride, causing him to land onto the restraining bar multiple times. Reports have said he was trying to film someone without permission in an attempt to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of a person. On June 23, 2017, a 14-year-old girl from. THE FLASH Pass: Regular. On April 13, 2017, at a little before 6 p.m. EST, the ride stalled along the same length as the 2014 incident. Discover Our Events & Festivals Spring Break Scream Break Grad Nite July Fireworks Oktoberfest Fright Fest Kids Boo Fest Veterans Weekend Holiday in the Park On July 1, 1972, five people were injured, two seriously, after two cars collided. No one was injured. Three of the students were taken to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure, though no one was seriously injured. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, and the ride remained closed pending the outcome of an investigation. The incident report notes that the train's rear wheel assembly and wood and steel bolts on the track were damaged. Network interview requests, including ofinspectors and enforcement officials, went unanswered. Four students suffered minor injuries, but were able to get off the ride. On June 3, 1984, a mechanical problem caused a train to stop abruptly, causing four people to be hospitalized. The ride was cleared a week later. On July 7, 2014, 22 guests were stranded for over two hours after a tree branch fell which caused the first car of the train to derail from the coaster's tracks. On August 7, 1984, a 17-year-old park worker was pulled from the water after falling 25 feet (7.6m) from the attraction. All suffered minor injuries with 10 people being treated at the scene and two being sent to a local hospital for further evaluation. Investigations showed that a. The Saw Mill Log Flume had been in operation for barely one month before the June 13 incident. The ride was temporarily shuttered after the malfunction, which sent one guest to the hospital with leg pain and another with an arm injury. Park officials said that they believe the girl fell because she was standing up while the ride was moving. On September 9, 1984, three guests were hospitalized after two trains collided in the station. She was treated by the park's medical staff, taken to Kaiser Hospital and died two days later from her injuries. Injured men and women were evacuated, leaving a 500-meter area affected. On September 7, 1997, four guests were slightly injured after the second and third cars on the blue train separated and collided into the brake run. First responders at the scene of an incident on the El Toro wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson . On July 18, 2019, riders were stranded for nearly two hours after its train stopped on the lift hill due to a safety malfunction. Of these, 5 were hospitalized and all 5 were released shortly after. Ahead of Tuesday's earnings announcement, we thought that we'd review some of the worst incidents at Six Flags,the nation's largest theme-park operator. The victim, who suffered a mild concussion and lacerations, was taken to Parkway Regional Hospital. On July 17, 2021, over 60 people were decontaminated after being exposed to an airborne chemical leak inside the water park. The Department of Community Affairsoversees inspections of carnivals and amusement park rides, including theme parks. On August 16, 1981, a 20-year-old park employee from, On August 29, 1981, a 19-year-old woman from. On July 13, 2016, a bomb threat was called in right before the park opened. On May 22, 1984, three teenage boys were seriously injured when the ride vehicle fell back down the lift shaft. On June 2, 1997, the Banzai Pipeline suffered a catastrophic failure after a section of the slide collapsed under the weight of a group of over 30 students who had congregated in a section of the slide, resulting in the students falling from the destroyed section. She slipped on her way across, fell into. In a statement, the park said that the ride will be completely re-inspected by a third party maintenance team and the state of New Jersey prior to reopening. On September 22, 2001, a 16-year-old girl was in distress shortly after riding the roller coaster and died after being taken to Prince George's Hospital Center. On August 8, 1968, ride operator John Raymond Nelson approached the ride before it stopped so he could quickly unload the passengers. They were taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, and later released. On June 27, 2021, a man was reportedly knocked unconscious during a fight that occurred inside the park Sunday evening and was seen convulsing on the ground near the, An incident occurred on August 14, 2022, when unknown assailants shot three people in a. The victim who was shot suffered non-life-threatening injuries sustained when leaving the park. Mike Davis has spent the last decade covering New Jersey local news, marijuana legalization, transportation and basically whatever else is going on at any given moment. Two students were reported to have concussions according to the school's superintendent. The internet has been filling the communications void, in sometimes unflattering if not informed ways. Five of them were taken to the hospital for evaluation. Eyewitnesses reported that the boat was returning from a tour when it began to list to one side. The incident resulted in over 2,000 park visitors being evacuated from the property. After the fourthincident, social media usersbegan comparing the 47-year-old theme park to Action Park, the infamous, injury-riddled theme park in North Jersey popularized in an HBO Max documentary released last year. The all-clear was announced after a search of the park around 2:45p.m. Six Flags announced that the park would be open until 8 p.m. that evening. The cost to fix the ride would not be worth it and they could not be confident in its ability to operate consistently. Whether the incidents, coming in such quick succession, speak to any wider concerns about safety or worker trainingis unclear. While the federal government haslaws in place regarding temporary amusement parks, such as those that travel, the rest of the amusement park industry is governed on a state-by-state basis. A lawsuit was filed on August 6, 2021. The coaster was swiftly dismantled in the fall of 2007. 26 people were treated at local hospitals including a 3-year-old who was in severe condition. On June 13, 2018, a 14-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital in very critical condition after he was rescued from the wave pool. On May 29, 2014, opening day, a 14-year-old girl fell ill while using the park's wave pool. She slid backwards and hit herself on a pole. He was taken to John Muir Medical Center by helicopter for treatment of a small cut to his head. Lisa Ryan, a DCA spokeswoman, described the issue as a derailment, with the wheels coming up on top of the rail. Six Flags acquired the amusement park in 1984 after the theme park division was an earnings disappointment for Marriott. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. If you have suffered a serious injury in an amusement park, theme park, or fair accident the experienced Six Flags injury attorneys of The Reiff Law Firm can fight for you. Elsewhere, Six Flags Fiesta Texas also is opening a Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster in 2022 with Dr. 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy Valencia, CA 91355 661-255-4100: By The Numbers: Games: 19: Unique Games: World Records: 0: Description: A . May 13, 2021. The log flume re-opened to the public on July 9, Fitzgerald said. Included in those 109 complaints were 18 reports of people blacking out on the Goliath roller coaster. Firefighters rescued the crew within 30 minutes and speculated that the gondolas flipped due to heavy equipment causing instability. On August 7, 1999, eight riders suffered injuries when their raft flipped over, trapping them underneath the water. Across the country, theme parks and amusement parks have seen an uptick in safety incidents, said Martin, who works with parks, governing bodies, insurance adjusters and attorneys on anything from researching for a potential lawsuit to training park staff in safety best practices. Story:A girl's toes were crushed when the operator of the Cajun Cliffhanger raised the floor of the ridebefore the ride came to a complete stop. JACKSON, N.J. (PIX11) More than a dozen people were hurt while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey Thursday evening . A 34-year-old man and his 2-year-old son were both taken to the hospital while another suffered minor injuries. On June 6, 1999, a 38-year-old stuntman was injured while doing a performance, after being thrown off a jet ski and was hit on the head by another one that was coming towards him. 1984 was the year of Six Flags Great America's worst accident. No damage was reported, and the park re-opened the following day. On August 9, 1973, ten people suffered minor injuries when two cars from a coaster train derailed as it was running through a tunnel. On July 14, 2021, a 7-year-old boy suffered head injuries while riding the coaster and was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. The Saw Mill Log Flume, freshly reopened after a 17-month shutdown by the state. On July 1, 2003, a roller coaster train stalled 140 feet (43m) off the ground after a malfunction occurred, leaving a total of 24 passengers on board stranded for more than two hours. On March 12, 2006, ten people suffered minor injuries when the Gunslinger, a, On September 5, 2011, a 64-year-old woman from. An autopsy revealed that her death was caused by a pre-existing heart condition. The train traveled most of the ride course with the rear wheels in this position.". No one was hurt in the accident and passengers had to be evacuated. Park officials said that they believe she fell because she was standing up while the ride was moving. The attraction closed temporarily for investigation, but park officials failed to find any evidence on what was determined to be the exact cause of the incident about how the woman fell off the train. In July 2014, a dozen lawsuits were filed against the park and the Rockford Park District after many guests complained of suffering spinal and back injuries while on the ride. At least two of the rides involved in incidents, the Saw Mill Log Flume and El Toro,were shut down by the state for safety violations within the last year, according to a USA TODAY NETWORK review of inspection records for those rides. The local fire department used an. An ambulance later arrived and carried him to Arlington Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The incident occurred in a fenced off area between the, On May 11, 1984, eight teenage visitors were trapped in the. On May 22, 2002, an 11-year-old girl from. Sign up for our newsletter to get the inside scoop on what traders are talking about delivered daily to your inbox. Six Flags America Octopus August 3, 2007: A 6-year-old girl fell from the Octopus while the ride was in motion and suffered minor injuries to her head, hip, and leg. After returning to a horizontal position, a, On July 18, 1989, an 11-year-old boy from. On June 8, 2005, a bolt failed inside a trough that the launch cable travels through. She suffered cuts and torn ligaments to her wrist and hands after riding and was taken to a nearby hospital to have surgery on her left hand. The three, all from. On June 2, 2006, two cars on the original Robin train were damaged as a wheel bogie on the third car suffered a mechanical malfunction. Six Flags Great Adventurehas disputed that characterization: Fitzgerald, the park spokeswoman, said the train's safety systems "worked as designed.". March 18, 2021. There were also repairs to the steel structure of the ride at that time, according to DCA's records. Park staff stopped the belt to prevent the rafts from going any further, but the goose was killed instantly once the ride continued to operate. "It is one of our signature attractions, and we are working diligently to reopen the ride following testing and a full safety inspection by both internal and external experts," she said. Of the 22 people that were on board the ride, 10 of them suffered injuries and were taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital for treatment. Passengers were eventually rescued about an hour later as a park worker helped evacuate all of them safely by walking down the catwalk on the side of its tracks. . The iconic Superman ride at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois has become a beloved attraction for roller coaster enthusiasts and Superman fans alike. This can be a refusal to follow specific ride safety instructions, or deliberate intent to violate park rules. On July 26, 2021, a man trespassed through a restricted area by climbing on the catwalk next to the wooden supports of the coaster's tracks to bring bottled water to passengers on board a train when it stalled on the lift hill. ", Read all about it: Book recounts history of Action Park, 'America's most dangerous amusement park'. On June 2, 2017, a woman filed a lawsuit against the park saying that she was injured while riding the Wahoo Racer waterslide back in July 2011. At the time of the fire, the park was closed. On July 18, 2001, 30 passengers were stranded in 90-degree heat after the computer sensor system automatically shut the ride down as one of the trains from the coaster was stuck 225 feet (69m) on its incline. His limb got caught between the car and the platform as the ride reentered the station and slowed to a stop. The weight that malfunctioned apparently didn't reach one of the devices in time for it to respond. They had come to the aid of a female friend of theirs who had been sexually harassed by Rasheed Kareem Friday. Since its opening in 1997, the ride has earned its place as one of the most thrilling experiences in the park. No injuries were reported. "Ive heard and seen evidence of how strict New Jersey is, but I was shocked at what I saw," he said. On July 12, 1976, two girls were left stranded on the ride for more than an hour. For all the fear associated with those rides, things are relatively safe at theme parks across the country. No arrests were made. His father filed a $1 million lawsuit against the park for injuries sustained. Park officials say it was the result of 'inappropriate horseplay'. The official Six Flags app allows you to make the most of your next visit. The coaster was temporarily shut down in order for the brakes on the tracks to be adjusted, plus safety tests were made to make sure it was operating normally as usual. According to the Hartford Courant, nine people were treated and released at area hospitals. Story:A park employee fell to his death during a test ride because, according to the park, he "may have assumed an unauthorized riding position that did not make use of the safety feature of the restraining devices.". The ride reopened the next day. On June 8, 2014, around 10 a.m., a fire broke out in a warehouse of stuffed animals. Firefighters were called to extinguish the flames, but the ride was closed for the rest of the night and the following day. On May 6, 2016, the Boomerang came to an abrupt halt. On June 1, 1998, twenty passengers had to be evacuated off the ride after the train suddenly stopped on its tracks. The following article is a summary of notable incidents at the amusement parks and water parks that are operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. According to a report issued by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, there were 1,299 ride-related injuries in the United States and Canada in 2019, about 3.7 injuries for every 1 million amusement and theme park visitors. Who suffered a mild concussion and lacerations, was taken to the hospital while another suffered minor injuries with people! Gratify the sexual desire of a small cut to his head injuries sustained when leaving the park of... Different management or ownership reported to have both legs safely secure when boarding train. 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