Davey Cakes
Member
It's funny how the newer metal coasters can feature all sorts of drops and loops and yet, the scarier coasters will always be the oldschool wooden ones, just because they feel legitimately shakier and, shall I say, more dangerous.
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Woman dies while riding roller coaster
- Thread starter The_Inquisitor
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they aren't. the restraint works because it makes it impossible for you to straighten your legs. if you're a large sized person the restraint cant close as far as needed and since fat squishes you could squeeze out of the restraint.
I still remember seeing the coaster covered up in person after the crash, creepy memories but that accident had nothing to do with the restraints it was crap construction. the last cars guide wheels broke so it slid off the track and slammed into the pillar when going through a loop.
Wikipedia lists the changes made to the train design after the accident. they pretty much went overkill on it.
For the Silver Star at Europa-Park, there's a guy that waits at the very start of the line next to a mock chair, and if anyone looks too fat he'll check to see if they fit or not. I'm surprised that this wasn't as enforced in Texas, what with there being a shitton more fat/obese people.
I've witnessed this a lot of times in multiple parks. I don;t know where I got this from but I always have thought that it isn't safe until you get three clicks (I'm probably wrong).
This makes me feel a little better about my own personal coaster riding, because I fucking love riding them.
I haven't ridden Son of Beast since 2003 and my knees still haven't recovered.
Back in the 80's we were able to just about stand up in The Racer. I remember joking that it was the second standing coaster at KI. Good times...
In my time at Disney I had to reject a few large people from my ride (seat belt wouldn't close around them). For the most part they were too embarrassed/ashamed to complain much since it happens in front of the entire queue of people waiting and also meant the ride had to be stopped a bit to get them off. There were a few who got pretty upset but rules are rules and they were free to complain to City Hall if they thought I had treated them unfairly.
Once I heard the story about the guests lap bar only clicking once instead of twice or more (plus the location) I guessed the size of the guest might have played a factor in this. Sounds completely like it's the attendants fault for not rejecting the guest.
What training was the attendant given?
How many "clicks" were they told to expect?
Is a "click" less safe than 2 or 3 or 4 "clicks"?
Is the ratchet system the only thing stopping the restraint from moving, or is there a secondary locking pin?
Did the restraint open, or did the woman fall out with the restraint closed?
It's far to early to just say it's the attendants fault.
Tritroid
Member
Yeah, no kidding. Son of Beast was a failure from the start. One of the reasons The Beast was loved so much was because it tossed you back into a wooded section of the park after the first hill. Son of Beast's location was...right in the middle of an open area of Kings Island, which kinda made it lose the atmosphere that its father had.
I rode on it a lot, both pre-loop and post-loop, and that ride never failed to always leave me feeling mangled. The worst parts were the corkscrew turns, which slammed you into the side of the car and then jolted you back when it started straight again.
One thing that amazed me about its grand re-opening in 2007 (after the loop was removed), was that they had actually purchased the old trains from Hurricane:Category 5 (The demolished coaster from Myrtle Beach) and custom-fit those for SoB. I had the unfortunate pleasure of riding Hurricane also before it was finally demolished; another pretty painful wooden coaster. Those trains were so old, and wore out, that I never really understood the logic in that move...they had to have only made the ride feel worse.
Ohhh yeah. Mean Streak is one of my favorite coasters ever, 3m 13s of relentless battery. I wish Cedar Point had more wooden coasters, though. Not a whole lot of room to expand unfortunately.
Interesting, noting like this is in any parc with coasters in Italy. They only have signs for minimum and maximum height and info about rider own responsibility.
Mother_Sanchez
Neo Member
That's another reason why I'm not a fan of wooden coasters. The damn things are so shakey. I feel like they're going to fall apart right under me. I rode one once up in PA called the WildCat and I thought it was just going to fall apart. :/
Razgriz-Specter
Member
Someone that used to work at Six Flags told me once that the main thing keeping some of the restraints 'locked' is basically a rubber band(and not a big one at that.
That's total bullshit and your friend was lying through their teeth.
Crag Dweller
aka kindbudmaster
The Bat was insane in the 80's.
That's normal for any roller coaster with lap restraints.
aparisi2274
Member
No offense, I mean I feel bad that she lost her life, but most coasters have tester seats out front of the attraction (so you can see if you can fit before waiting on a huge line only to find out you cant fit when you get to the loading area). Was there no tester seat for this attraction, and if there was, how come the attendant who works the entrance did not ask her to use the tester seat?
I am a larger fellow, and I ALWAYS use the tester seat out front. I want to make absolute certain I can fit in the car before I ride it.
I am good on almost all coasters, with the exception being the over the shoulder harness with the seatbelt in the middle (usually on rides where the track is above you). However some of these coasters have implemented a section of the ride train where the seatbelt fastens to the side of the hump, and it is two seatbelts that need to be fastened, so I usually ride in that row.
I am a larger fellow, and I ALWAYS use the tester seat out front. I want to make absolute certain I can fit in the car before I ride it.
I am good on almost all coasters, with the exception being the over the shoulder harness with the seatbelt in the middle (usually on rides where the track is above you). However some of these coasters have implemented a section of the ride train where the seatbelt fastens to the side of the hump, and it is two seatbelts that need to be fastened, so I usually ride in that row.
I told this lady that. Then she died.
I think it is safe to say we can cross this one off the list.
dragonflys545
Member
FUCK... I'm going to 6 flags this Saturday... I'm just gonna go on the water rides.
Why? You think it's going to happen again so soon? That is highly, highly unlikely. Besides there have been deadly accidents on those water rapids rides too.
Ouch...that sucks to hear.
Sounds like some Final Destination crap right there.
I've been on the Texas Giant a few times over the years.
I remember it always being jerky as hell.
But yeah, I could see where it got way too shaky/jerky to a point.
Haven't been on it since they redesigned it though.
Sounds like some Final Destination crap right there.
I've been on the Texas Giant a few times over the years.
I remember it always being jerky as hell.
But yeah, I could see where it got way too shaky/jerky to a point.
Haven't been on it since they redesigned it though.
Did you hear/read about what happened at Cedar Point over the weekend?
GhostRidah
Member
this happened to me when I was a kid and my father had to hold me or I would have fell out. I was halfway out of the seat to, never went on another coaster since then.
Mother_Sanchez
Neo Member
Ohgod, it was awful. I think I left with more bruises than I ever had in my entire life.
Mother_Sanchez
Neo Member
Do tell?
CrunchyFrog
Member
they did.
fuck
Laughing Banana
Weeping Pickle
So, even if the deceased lady should have been more aware about her own body size in related to the safety of riding that ride, in the end I say the fault still lays on the staff. Why would they allow her to continue? They're trained for this.
Bollocks.
Especially this:
What the fuck man, what the fuck.
Bollocks.
Especially this:
What the fuck man, what the fuck.
dragonflys545
Member
Staph it XD
aparisi2274
Member
In case anyone cares... the ride restraint on the Texas Giant does not make "clicky" noises like some reports have mentioned... here is an in depth breakdown of the ride restraint system that that coaster has in place, and was in place when this poor woman lost her life:
From Screamscape:
From Screamscape:
Squirrel Killer
Member
I'm still pissed that a buddy talked me out of going on The Bat in order to ride the Racers 22 times (won 20 times.) He told me it was lame and not worth the wait, but in retrospect and in light of all the "I'm never riding a coaster again" people here, I wonder if he was just scared.
R10Neymarfan
Member
In any case I can't imagine that the computer didn't pick this up. The train won't even leave the station if the restraints aren't secured to it's specifications. But yes body size on coasters have been a problem in America due to it's obesity rate, but this is staff and park's fault this time. Even though some of the blame should go to the lady.
Suikoguy
I whinny my fervor lowly, for his length is not as great as those of the Hylian war stallions
It's been a couple of years since my law classes, but my understanding is as long as the majority of the reason for her death is negligence by lack of maintenance or staff failure and that reason is the proximate cause of her death it does not matter.
I think it's pretty clear from the information released thus far that the majority of the reason for her death was not her own fault, even if she is considerably overweight.
The phobia in this thread is as bad as people thinking typical commercial flights are very dangerous. Statistically, roller coasters are safe. Accidents do happen but they are extremely rare.
And while some GAF'ers shout, "HEY! this is unsafe because it looks unsafe!," I'll stick to what science says about roller coasters.
And while some GAF'ers shout, "HEY! this is unsafe because it looks unsafe!," I'll stick to what science says about roller coasters.
Going to quote myself as my own question was answered.
My wife and I discussed this accident and we both wondered if she was obese, and that is why the bar did not lock down fully. (Though I see this bit of reporting is now in dispute.)
Hopefully there are further improvements to the safety bars, or restrictions on the passenger size, to ensure everyone is secured.
I think this is why all of the theme parks I've been to have erred on the side of caution. My younger daughter has been creeping up to 48" high over the course of the past year, crossing it at the start of the year. So this year she could ride a lot of rides she could not last year. When we did parks last summer, she was about 47 and 3/4". And she didn't get by on ANY of the rides that have a 48" requirement. They really wanted to make sure they enforce safety standards without any exception. As they should.
They've confirmed the identity of the victim as Rosy Esparza. RIP.
My wife and I discussed this accident and we both wondered if she was obese, and that is why the bar did not lock down fully. (Though I see this bit of reporting is now in dispute.)
Hopefully there are further improvements to the safety bars, or restrictions on the passenger size, to ensure everyone is secured.
I think this is why all of the theme parks I've been to have erred on the side of caution. My younger daughter has been creeping up to 48" high over the course of the past year, crossing it at the start of the year. So this year she could ride a lot of rides she could not last year. When we did parks last summer, she was about 47 and 3/4". And she didn't get by on ANY of the rides that have a 48" requirement. They really wanted to make sure they enforce safety standards without any exception. As they should.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
They just brought up some interesting points on CNN a few minutes ago. Apparently a lot of these deaths over the past decade have involved people who were obese. The most famous cases (Superman coaster, Knotts Berry Farms, etc) involve people who were over 200lbs. I think we're getting close to parks implementing size limits to cover their butts. It's going to cause an uproar, but it might be the only option so this doesn't happen again.
biggyfries
Member
I could see that, but could also see a "width meter" of so sort, like the have the height requirements.
It could be as simple as "sorry, but i cant let you on. you can't fit in the hula hoop."
Scofield94941
Member
too late, It is a shame. I always feel like I'm going to have a heart attack on every roller coaster. Thought it was that
chickdigger802
Banned
reminds me of the one time in china where i rode some ghetto ass looking swinging disc thing.
Heard zero clicks, luckily the thing was held down with a seatbelt buckle thing, but yeah i could feel gravity dragging me down at times.
Might have shat myself.
Heard zero clicks, luckily the thing was held down with a seatbelt buckle thing, but yeah i could feel gravity dragging me down at times.
Might have shat myself.
HoodWinked
Member
there are alot of obese people at parks riding these things all the time so the people working there will check the bars and such as routine.
i wouldnt be surprised if other larger or much smaller attendants rode before her with no problems.
i wouldnt be surprised if other larger or much smaller attendants rode before her with no problems.
iamaustrian
Member
damn what a horrible incident.
A man fainted in front of me during a Space Mountain ride in Disney World in the 90s.
I was basicly a still a kid at that time.I will never forget the picture of the bouncing head and arms in every curve. I seriously thought the guy died during the ride.
It's beyond me how the wooden coaster at Bush Gardens is still in operation.
I know it's pretty new but riding it is more pain than joy. in fact most people said "never again" after our first and last ride. my ears were ringing and half of my body ached
A man fainted in front of me during a Space Mountain ride in Disney World in the 90s.
I was basicly a still a kid at that time.I will never forget the picture of the bouncing head and arms in every curve. I seriously thought the guy died during the ride.
It's beyond me how the wooden coaster at Bush Gardens is still in operation.
I know it's pretty new but riding it is more pain than joy. in fact most people said "never again" after our first and last ride. my ears were ringing and half of my body ached
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