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Kings Island closes Drop Zone as precaution after girl loses feet on similar ride in Ky.
Friday, June 22, 2007
MASON — Kings Island Amusement Park shut down its Drop Zone ride indefinitely after a gruesome accident on a similar ride at a Six Flags Park in Kentucky.
According to witnesses, a cable broke loose Thursday on the Superman Tower of Power at Six Flags Kingdom in Louisville, cutting off a 13-year-old girl's feet.
Extras
It was unclear at what point in the ride the teenager was injured, Wendy Goldberg, a Six Flags spokeswoman, told the Associated Press. The girl's condition at a Louisville hospital was not available Friday.
The Superman ride takes passengers up 177 feet and then drops them nearly 154 feet at 54 mph before stopping. Drop Zone takes riders up 264 feet and drops them at 67 mph.
Intamin AG, a Swiss company, made all the rides, said Sandor Kernacs, president of the company's American operations, Intamin Ltd. in Glen Burnie, Md.
After being notified of the accident by the manufacturer, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., Kings Island's owner, shut down Drop Zone and similar rides at Canada's Wonderland, in Toronto; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va.; Carowinds, in Charlotte, N.C.; and Great America in Santa Clara, Calif. Company spokeswoman Stacy Frole described it as a precautionary measure.
No rides at Cedar Point in Sandusky, also owned by Cedar Fair, were closed.
Drop Zone opened in 1999 and there have been no incidents with the ride, Kings Island spokesman Kraig Ross said.
"We have a strong commitment to safety and the rides are inspected each morning," Ross said. "It's not uncommon when something like this happens to reinspect the rides to ensure it's safe."
An investigation is underway on Superman Tower and there's no word when Drop Zone will be able to reopen.
Bill Clary, a spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, which inspects amusement park rides, said a cause hadn't been determined Friday afternoon.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4545 or dlockwood@coxohio.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Comments
By Mommy30
July 6, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this
I heard somewhere in reply to the person who said maybe they didn’t know the cable was going to break,that infact the cable was suppossed to be replaced like every 6months and it hadn’t been replaced in four years. You hear all kinds of storys yes, i agree your never 100% safe from anything altough parks now arn’t doing what they are suppossed to either.
By Mommy30
July 6, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
I heard somewhere in reply to the person who said maybe they didn’t know the cable was going to break, that infact the cable was suppossed to be replaced like every 6months and it hadn’t been replaced in four years. You hear all kinds of storys but yes, i agree your never 100% safe from anything altough parks now arn’t doing what they are suppossed to either !!!!
By Mommy30
July 6, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
I heard somewhere in reply to the person who said maybe they didn’t know the cable was going to break, that infact the cable was suppossed to be replaced like every 6months and it hadn’t been replaced in four years. You hear all kinds of storys but yes, i agree your never 100% safe from anything altough parks now arn’t doing what they are suppossed to either !!!!
By Mommy30
July 6, 2007 10:25 PM | Link to this
I heard somewhere in reply to the person who said maybe they didn’t know the cable was going to break, that infact the cable was suppossed to be replaced like every 6months and it hadn’t been replaced in four years. You hear all kinds of storys but yes, i agree your never 100% safe from anything altough parks now arn’t doing what they are suppossed to either !!!!
By Mommy30
July 6, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
I heard somewhere in reply to the person who said maybe they didn’t know the cable was going to break, that infact the cable was suppossed to be replaced like every 6months and it hadn’t been replaced in four years. You hear all kinds of storys but yes, i agree your never 100% safe from anything altough parks now arn’t doing what they are suppossed to either !!!!
By Mommy30
July 6, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
I heard somewhere in reply to the person who said maybe they didn’t know the cable was going to break, that infact the cable was suppossed to be replaced like every 6months and it hadn’t been replaced in four years. You hear all kinds of storys but yes, i agree your never 100% safe from anything altough parks now arn’t doing what they are suppossed to either !!!!
By Mommy30
July 6, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
I heard somewhere in reply to the person who said maybe they didn’t know the cable was going to break, that infact the cable was suppossed to be replaced like every 6months and it hadn’t been replaced in four years. You hear all kinds of storys but yes, i agree your never 100% safe from anything altough parks now arn’t doing what they are suppossed to either !!!!
By Mommy30
July 6, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
I heard somewhere in reply to the person who said maybe they didn’t know the cable was going to break, that infact the cable was suppossed to be replaced like every 6months and it hadn’t been replaced in four years. You hear all kinds of storys but yes, i agree your never 100% safe from anything altough parks now arn’t doing what they are suppossed to either !!!!
By Charlie
July 6, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this
Right on Rick! These people are stupid they wish they would close them down……….they weren’t meant to be…..and where did you people go to school? You’re illiterate and can’t spell worth crap. 50% of the people that die on the highway are dead because of drunk drivers yet they still sell alcohol. Rides are a lot more safe than getting in a car. I feel bad for that girl. I hope she gets a free pass to Six Flags and rides it again so she can experience it the way it’s supposed to be.
By Rick Gillespie
July 6, 2007 5:34 PM | Link to this
I went to Six Flags Over Texas the weekend after that poor girl lost her feet and I waited in line to ride Superman Tower of power for over an hour. It is a different design so it wasn’t closed like Drop Zone and Superman Tower of Power where she was hurt and Six Flags Great America. While in line I kept thinking of that poor little girl. But to answer the question asked……No I’m not afraid it was fun. How many people died that day on the highway? Gonna stop driving?
By Rebecca
July 5, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
I was checking updates today and everyone is reporting that the doctors were able to save her right foot, but the left foot was too damaged to reattach. I hope she is able to adjust to this enormous change to her life! I really hope everything works out for her. My prayers are with you Kaitlyn!!!
By Ashley
July 3, 2007 11:26 PM | Link to this
Right now I was searching for information on Firehawk and I came across this story. I reside in Kentucky and I do not personally know the girl that was injured on Superman Tower of Power, but I can tell from the news that the girl is doing well. While I feel sympathy for her and her family i feel it isn’t Kentucky Kingdom’s fault.Yes the cable broke & it injured someone but maybe they had no way of telling whether that cable would break,it was a horrible accident. Go 2 a Ky news site 4 more info
By samantha
July 3, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
that is so sad i cant imagine what the little girls parents are going through i amvery sorry to here that and my fealings go out to the parents and the little girl i cannot believe these people that are more intristed in when the ride is going to open again thats just RIDICULOUS!!!!!
By Mother of 2 and in disbelief of some people...
July 1, 2007 11:58 PM | Link to this
Some good comments here…and some that are CRAZY! What the heck are you people thinking? Coming on here saying things like…OHHH I want to ride that ride, or it was just a freak accident…YOU ARE NOT THINKING OF THIS LITTLE GIRL! Imagine that was your daughter? Or imagine that was you? That poor child! RESPECT her and her family and leave her some GET WELL COMMENTS! AND PRAY for her and her family. Better than those comments calling one another idiots and stupid… ((childish)).
By me
June 27, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
Let be intelligent about this… Rides are mechanical and therefore they CAN and DO break. Inspectors are human, and therefore they are not perfect.
None of us can say they we have never missed ‘dotting and i’ or ‘crossing a t’ on our jobs. WE ARE ALL HUMAN.
Some of us, have jobs where those mistakes are costly…that does NOT make those of us in that position less HUMAN.
You either chose to accept the risk or you don’t ride. The adrenalin rush (from FEAR) is why we ride.
By Hello...
June 27, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
Does anyone know if the ride is open yet??? I want to go on it.. Thanks
By adriana.R
June 27, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
omg! this is sooo scary i just finished watching final destination 3 and then the new went on and said emergency call girl lost feet on ride this afternoon… ive been on all the rides u can amagine( im exagerating) and ive been on drop zone @ least 5 times on nothing has ever happened to me! This is no trag\dgety its a freak accident! I do feel bad for that girl, wait a sec im her age… Freaky… Im not scared though to go on eny rides the odds of dieing on some freakaccident i 1 in 1,000,000
By adriana.R
June 27, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
omg! this is sooo scary i just finished watching final destination 3 and then the new went on and said emergency call girl lost feet on ride this afternoon… ive been on all the rides u can amagine( im exagerating) and ive been on drop zone @ least 5 times on nothing has ever happened to me! This is no trag\dgety its a freak accident! I do feel bad for that girl, wait a sec im her age… Freaky… Im not scared though to go on eny rides the odds of dieing on some freakaccident i 1 in 1,000,000
By adriana.R
June 27, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
omg! this is sooo scary i just finished watching final destination 3 and then the new went on and said emergency call girl lost feet on ride this afternoon… ive been on all the rides u can amagine( im exagerating) and ive been on drop zone @ least 5 times on nothing has ever happened to me! This is no trag\dgety its a freak accident! I do feel bad for that girl, wait a sec im her age… Freaky… Im not scared though to go on eny rides the odds of dieing on some freakaccident i 1 in 1,000,000
By GetOverIT
June 27, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Best thing that could happen is the Amusement park gets sued for a ton of money, which they can spare, then they buy the girl some high-tech prosthetic feet, and invite her to be on the front row of the grand-re-opening of the ride, and all this should happen before the end of the season. Oh, and the Lawyers need to go over to her house and get a settlement signed before she gets a Lawyer. (You know this is part of the discussion in the boardroom that afternoon- Think Sarcasm here.)
By Sick
June 26, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this
People spend money to go ride these rides that threaten their saftey. It’s awful that her and her family went to this theme park and paid good money to get in, only for this tragedy to happen. People assume safetey when riding these rides, but it is a false assumption. When riding any ride we put our safety in the hands of those who run the rides, created them, and inspected them. If one person messes up their job, people can be injured or even killed.
By Rebecca
June 26, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
Hey Brianna how do yuo know they inspected the rides? Were you there? Have you ever worked for that kind of place? Well i have worked at that kind of place, and sometimes they don’t check them everyday, or they don’t look how they ar esupposed to and miss something because they are in a rush to open.
By adriana
June 26, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
i realy feel bad for that little girl but ho did her feet get cut of by a cable? was she swinging her feet? and where did the cable get loose, was it in the ride, outside of the ride, or was itjust hanging, these are the questions that haunt me.
By brianna
June 25, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this
okay, so i read through these..comments and some of them are quite stupid. the safety inspectors are NOT incompitent, they inspected the rides just like usual..were they supposed to predict the future and magically know that the cable would snap? no! Use your mind. This was an ACCIDENT these things just HAPPEN, there is NO explanation! god bless that young girl, i will keep her in my prayers. but you have to understand, it wasn’t anyones fault. evryone should know, that there is a RISK for rides
By cuty
June 25, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
i was just reading these and i just want to say why would they even make those stupid rides. i dont even like getting on rides tat go more than 50 or 60 feet in the air. i love going to six flags but not for the rides but for the huge swimming pool. SPLASH!SPLASH!SPLASH! any ways i hope that little girl feels better.because i am 11 so i bet it would have been painful. godbless that little girl.
By Amanda
June 25, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this
This incident was a terrible tragedy…my heart goes out to the girl (my age, 13)and her family & friends as well. I went to Great Americaon Friday for my 8th grade graduation trip and at the time didn’t know about this. I was really psyched about going on Drop Zone with some friends but it was closed. I was happy to actually see them operating it, looking at everything and when I got home, my mom told about what had happened…
By Eva
June 25, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this
My heart goes out the young girl and her family, God Bless!
I always hate rides and Great America, even at Carnivals. I wish they close it down, and realize it wasn’t meant to be. I think kids should be 25 and older to get on them kinds of ride.
I want the person who invented the ride to pay for it, for the rest of his life.
By Eva
June 25, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this
My heart goes out the young girl and her family, God Bless!
I always hate rides and Great America, even at Carnivals. I wish they close it down, and realize it wasn’t meant to be. I think kids should be 25 and older to get on them kinds of ride.
I want the person who invented the ride to pay for it, for the rest of his life.
By Rebecca
June 25, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
Not just that but the parks are more into making their money than safety. They don’t give a flying fig about you as long as they get paid. They can’t close a ride down for the proper amount of repair and inspection time because then they lose money, and this poor little girl has to suffer because of that! My prayers are with this girl!
By Rebecca
June 25, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
These rides are safe huh? This kind of thing is a rare occurance huh? The people that do safety checks for these rides are absolutely imcompitant. This kind of thing happens alot. 40 people fell to their deaths on a drop ride, a little boy fell because his harness was not secure, a man lost his head when ia riders feet hit him, rides come off tracks, this kind of thing is not rare but quite common, so please don’t call this a freak accident. Call it what it is. Safety incompitance.
By Dreag
June 25, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
This is a horrble incident. Its true that we all learned something from it yet what about that girl that lost her legs. Her future is now destroyed due to a stupid reason. I don’t know what I would do in a situation like that. However, I do hope that all the owners of the amusement parks run the rides a couple of times and check it if it works properly. In this case the cable snapped, was the cable changed regularly? Did they change the cable on a regularly basis to stop these types of incidents
By Marcus
June 25, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
i think is just an accident i heard about the other day an still went an got on drop zone i mean if someone get shot a store that dosnt mean ur not gonna go to the store anymore i think its a blessin in disguise every thing happens for a reason i will continue to prey for her an her family
By Roma
June 25, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
You know its amazing how many people get injured or even lose lives on these kinds of rides honestly in my opinion all drop zones,towers should be shut down…
This reminded me of that one incident where the people got all the at the top and there harnesses(sp) flew up and it came down at the speed with 40 people dead.
But seriously they should think about closing these towers down.
By terrible terrible accident, but life goes on
June 25, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this
This event was indeed a tragic and life changing event and the girl deserves compensation and all the prayers she can get but i think of it also as a blessing in disguise.Its hard to swallow that it took this, but accidents like this are what keep them from happening again.Hopefully the accident will bring some things to attention that will make rides safer.I think also that prayers need to go out to the company & inspectors in charge of the rides. What if YOU had missed the cable flaw that day?
By Nicole
June 24, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
This is crap I have never been so upset with people in my life. You know when I heard what that child went through it really haunted me and still do. I am not understanding why its okay for this baby to be injured and some of you stupid people are worried about a ride. I pray to God that she is okay and get compensated for her loss. Alot of people can say freak accident but it still was an accident and the park did not even care enough to close a few days. I will be praying for her and family
By Mariah
June 24, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this
All i have to say is GOD BLESS THAT FAMILY!!!! man… i am 13 and i would not know what i would do in that situation… if i would cry, or if i would start praying… In 2 days i was goin to go to kings island and ride drop zone for the very first time(so excited) but i was at my dads house and just an hour ago i heard about the tragic story. i will NEVER go onto drop zone now. ohhh… the pain it brings me for that family. just knowing that they thought that they would have a fun time. PRAY!!!
By Amber
June 24, 2007 12:19 AM | Link to this
i have never been on a ride and something bad happen and i am only 12 so feel really bad for that girl.i will pray for her cause i know she will never be the same again.i will never go to six flags in kentucky at all even if u payed me!!!!!
By Amber
June 24, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this
i have never been on a ride and something bad happen and i am only 12 so feel really bad for that girl.i will pray for her cause i know she will never be the same again.i will never go to six flags in kentucky at all even if u payed me!!!!!
By Allie
June 23, 2007 11:44 PM | Link to this
My prayers go out to this family… As the mother of a young teen, and a frequent guest at King’s Island and mother of a former employee of King’s Island, I think that the Drop Zone should be closed temporarily, not just to double-check the function, but simply out of respect for this young girl. I know when we go back to visit King’s Island, I won’t be able to look at that ride without grieving for this family…. To be angry about this is very selfish. The family should be compensated.
By Trish
June 23, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this
Oh Wow Stan you got me………did you pay “an arm and a leg” for that webster’s? You knew it was an I because you are an Idiot, I put an a because I really think your an a hole. Keep your stupid comments to your self. This childs life is forever changed and you want to make ignorant comments…..GOOD DAY——-I said GOOD DAY!!!!! My family is praying for this girl and her family……….
By amanda
June 23, 2007 11:18 PM | Link to this
i feel sorry that this happen to that little girl. i will pray for her and her family.i have rode drop zone plenty of time and nothing ever happen to me i dont see how this could of happen but i hope that the little girl gets better
By Nick Alexander
June 23, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
In clarifying my remark, I was referring to the dismantling of ferris wheels for transport between fair locations.
By motherof6
June 23, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
Just went to King’s Island last weekend. One of the ride operators commented to me that Cedar Fair has much higher expectations than Paramount did. That’s a bit reassuring. Although I love the big rides, I am glad their closing it until they re-check everything. It shows a commitment to excellence.
As for the little girl, I do ache for her and her family. I have six children and we’ve all ridden the big rides many times.
By ron
June 23, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this
I buy a pass every year and cant wait to get back on drop zone always good to have a safety inspection.sorry to hear that i about lost my daughter a year ago when she fell very scary.
By ron
June 23, 2007 8:27 PM | Link to this
I buy a pass every year and cant wait to get back on drop zone always good to have a safety inspection.sorry to hear that i about lost my daughter a year ago when she fell very scary.
By Fransisco
June 23, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this
I feel so bad for that young lady I could cry. What a horrible thing to happen. I pray she has the strength to deal with this. And I hope her family is strong, also. So young to be dealt this hand.
By AshleyP
June 23, 2007 5:34 PM | Link to this
Restricting someone else’s ride?? Uhh, wouldn’t you maybe, feel, a little bit better & safer knowing that they did some extra inspections and took extra precautions on the ride(s) to make sure that they are all okay and YOU the customer, will be SAFE? Or would you rather, have them restrict your ride, and YOU get YOUR little feet cut off??? This story kills me, and some of the comments from you people amaze me as well. Like everyone else, have some compassion for her. What if it were you?
By AshleyP
June 23, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Restricting someone else’s ride?? Uhh, wouldn’t you maybe, feel, a little bit better & safer knowing that they did some extra inspections and took extra precautions on the ride(s) to make sure that they are all okay and YOU the customer, will be SAFE? Or would you rather, have them restrict your ride, and YOU get YOUR little feet cut off??? This story kills me, and some of the comments from you people amaze me as well. Like everyone else, have some damn compassion for her. What if it were you?
By AshleyP
June 23, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Restricting someone else’s ride?? Uhh, wouldn’t you maybe, feel, a little bit better & safer knowing that they did some extra inspections and took extra precautions on the ride(s) to make sure that they are all okay and YOU the customer, will be SAFE? Or would you rather, have them restrict your ride, and YOU get YOUR little feet cut off??? This story kills me, and some of the comments from you people amaze me as well. Like everyone else, have some damn compassion for her. What if it were you?
By kwindshawne
June 23, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Anything man made is prone to failure at some point or another. I am glad KI and all the other parks closed their drop rides as an extra safety precaution. Daily inspections ensure they are safe, but human error can always factor in, such as missing a crack or other miniscule detail when doing daily inspections. It makes me physically sick for the girl, cause I can only imagine witnessing something like this. Her life is forever changed, and I hope she is able to have a somewhat normal life.
By I still love amusement park rides
June 23, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Nothing in life is 100% safe. You can stay in bed all the time or you can go out and enjoy the things that you enjoy, but there is a risk in everything that you do. I’m not saying it’s not a tragedy when someone is seriously injured doing what they love, but it’s also a tragedy that there are those who are scared to live their life because something horrible - and rare - happens to someone else.
By Julia
June 23, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
My prayers go out to the girl and her family. I don’t think all the compensation in the world could make up for this, and to those of you who feel she deserves little to no money, think of everything she most likely won’t be able to do normally anymore. What if the surgeons can’t successfully re-attach her feet? Imagine having to attach your prosthetic feet every morning like she will have to? And all the activities she can’t participate in anymore. Drew: You’re a 13yr old moron. Learn to spell.
By Julia
June 23, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
My prayers go out to the girl and her family. I don’t think all the compensation in the world could make up for this, and to those of you who feel she deserves little to no money, think of everything she most likely won’t be able to do normally anymore. What if the surgeons can’t successfully re-attach her feet? Imagine having to attach your prosthetic feet every morning like she will have to? And all the activities she can’t participate in anymore. Drew: You’re a 13yr old moron. Learn to spell.
By Julia
June 23, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
My prayers go out to the girl and her family. I don’t think all the compensation in the world could make up for this, and to those of you who feel she deserves little to no money, think of everything she most likely won’t be able to do normally anymore. What if the surgeons can’t successfully re-attach her feet? Imagine having to attach your prosthetic feet every morning like she will have to? And all the activities she can’t participate in anymore. Drew: You’re a 13yr old moron. Learn to spell.
By Jennifer Semones
June 23, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
My heart goes out to the family. I do not feel that rides at any park are safe. You can say that it was a freak accident but when it happens to you you will think different about it. I think the family should sue the park for medical expense’s.
By Debbie
June 23, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
Well I’ve read all the comment’s that were made about the amusement parks and how everyone felt about this horrible accident, and it really is terrible, my prayers go out to her and the family, I personally think they should get alot of money in this case, everybody is always looking for a quick dollar for the wrong reasons, when your life is affected like this things will never be the same, I myself like the water rides, as I speak my son is on his way to K.I, with his girlfriend and family.
By denise
June 23, 2007 6:20 AM | Link to this
well, i hope all goes well with the family…so sad though…
By christina
June 23, 2007 2:25 AM | Link to this
Bob540 you are funny :)
This is definitely a tradegy. I will be praying for that little girl. Imagine how her life is at this very moment. She is thinking about how she walked into to the park and now she has no feet and has to be carried out. Her life will never be the same and she is going to replay this in her head over and over.
By George in Trenton
June 23, 2007 1:33 AM | Link to this
I hope that the surgeons can save her feet.
By Karly
June 23, 2007 1:22 AM | Link to this
I do feel bad for the girl. But it was just a freak accident on the ride. It hasnt happened before so why should they close drop zone at kings island. They should just inspect it then open it right back up. i was just on drop zone two days ago.
By oh my goodness
June 23, 2007 1:14 AM | Link to this
Wow! the things I just read is so amazing. Think about it if that was you or your daughter or maybe someone you love on that ride and they just got their feet cut off would you honestly just say no problem it was just freak accident I really shouldn’t have got on that ride because the sign does say at your own risk? Yeah right get real have some compassion for the little girl.Say a prayer for her and her family.That they get through this.
By oh my goodness
June 23, 2007 1:13 AM | Link to this
Wow! the things I just read is so amazing. Think about it if that was you or your daughter or maybe someone you love on that ride and they just got their feet cut off would you honestly just say no problem it was just freak accident I really shouldn’t have got on that ride because the sign does at your own risk? Yeah right get real have some compassion for the little girl.Say a prayer for her and her family.That they get through this.
By drew
June 22, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this
if u got anything to say about that,bring it!
By drew
June 22, 2007 11:22 PM | Link to this
im 13 also and ive been riding on rides like this 4ever, yes i do feel sorry 4 this little girl and this is just a freak accident and her family should do nothing to get money out of this cause it aint there fault it broke down. cause they check those things a lot to make sure there safe.
By matt
June 22, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this
That sucks….I was on drop zone two days ago.
By sue
June 22, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this
This is truely a tragedy for the girl, and the parks do carry insurance which should compensate her and her family. But as someone commented you enter at your own risk, I personally had back surgery due to riding a rickety ride at Six Flags in St. Louis. But my son was about to be hurt worse because I am larger than he was & he was not properly secured. We are more cautious about how each person is secured but still ride. No I did not seek $ or even tell them as I had no proof.
By ash
June 22, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
i am so sorry for what has happend to this little girl. i hope she gets better!!! ill say a prayer for her.
By NICHOLEBLUE
June 22, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
It’s amazing to see the maturity of the local people. Only in Hamilton…
By Wes
June 22, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
~Hey everybody…I feel bad about the little girl that got hurt and I do think the rides should be closed…how would you feel if that happened to you on a ride???…I think they should be closed but only long enough to inspect and repair any parts of the ride that need it…I’ve been on several drop zones like the ones at kings island and at kings dominion and nothing like this has ever happened…but I would feel a lot better if all of these types of rides were closed temporarily and checked to make sure that this doesn’t happen again…rides like these have been my favorite type of thrill rides other than roller coasters and hopefully drop rides are not given a bad name for this terrible accident…~
By Amanda
June 22, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
all the witty comments make me laugh, but i mean come’on. poor girl. bless her and my wishes are with her and her family. thats a freak accident :/ hm. everyone else yelling at each other, stop. jessuss
By Rebecca
June 22, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this
About the comment ashely made, I am a christian so I don’t take political sides alot, but the comment you made about killing the babies is awful. You should be ashamed of yourself. Anyway, what does having guns have to do with the little girl. Some of you need to stop making this a political war and start thinking of the little girl and her family. Have a little compassion and send out a prayer for them.
By Stan
June 22, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
Trish,
At least I can spell definitely. So, I ask, who is the idiot? Good day, Trish……I said GOOD DAY!
By Trish
June 22, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
Stan—-what a stupid comment, you are definately an idiot.
By shakee
June 22, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
Yall just need to pray for the little gurl.
By Wowurstupid
June 22, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this
Mary, you are sooo stupid. If you paid almost $40 to enjoy a day out at the amusement park and got your feet ripped off, would you only expect prosthetics and hospital bills? Hell no, you’d be sueing them for enough money for you to live on for the rest of your life. Besides, you knew there were risks going but you did not know that a cable would snap and cut your legs off. For you to think that this girl shouldn’t be compensated for ALL the work she’ll never be able to do now, YOU ARE AN IDIOT.
By Shawna
June 22, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
It does suck that they shut the rides down a lot, but look at it this way. They are shut down for a reason and usually the reason is, something needs worked on or fixed. Would rather them open it because you want to ride it? I know that I wouldn’t. I’d rather them fix what they need to fix.
By hope
June 22, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
I’ve been on that ride and it scared the heck out of me…however I wouldn’t expect everyone to stop riding it. It’s awfull as to what happened to the little girl. The very first comment made on this however was really mean, she had her feet cut off, that’s terrible. I’m not afraid of amusement parks, I just know which ones I like to ride more than others. Nothing is guranteed, you know? It’s an ‘enter at your own risk’ deal which is why everyone goes =)People like the ‘rush’ from the rides.
By Shawna
June 22, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
I definately feel safe on these rides. My father owns the company in Dayton that inspects the welds, stability, and ability of them. I do have to say that if it weren’t for my dad doing so, I wouldn’t ride them. I have always been scared of them. I feel sorry for the little girl, but I don’t think young kids should ride those rides anyways ride. It’s safe to tell you all that for a fact that all of Cedar Fair’s rides are safe. My dad inspects them all and I trust him with my life.
By Mary
June 22, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
I’m 60 and I love to ride the Beast and the Vortex at K.I. Sure they can be dangerous, but you ride at your own risk. It’s a shame about that poor girl, my heart goes out to her. The park should pay her medical bills and for prosthetics but that’s all.
By chad
June 22, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
I think you meant “billy”.
These rides have risks and every person should know that but if i was her i’d still be suing the owners.
By billy
June 22, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
Zoe, if you’re 11 then I’m a hillbilly.
By billy
June 22, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Oops. I didn’t mean “idoit”. I meant “idito”.
By Zoe
June 22, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
im 11. and im never going on superman again! i know it is @ a different location, and no1’s gotton hurt on that 1, but i just wouldn’t feel safe going on it again. i mean, her life will never be the same. i can’t imagain living like that. 1 second walking around six flags, having a great time, and the next, screaming my head off cause my feet got choped off!!! don’t you agree?
By bill
June 22, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
whats an idoit?
By billy
June 22, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
i feal as if i’m surmounded by idoits!
By shannon
June 22, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
I feel bad for the little girl and her family. Now I still plan on going to Kings Island next weekend. I mean more people get injured and killed in car wrecks and plane crashes then in freak accidents at amusement parks. Of course I’m not telling everyone to go run out and hop on a roller coaster I mean hey if you’re not comfortable on one then don’t ride but don’t knock all of us who are still going to ride.
By billy
June 22, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
Why is everyone getting so bent out of shape and angry with me? Where is the love? I’m not feeling it…
By Mark
June 22, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Nick, I also need some help with “taking them down.” No idea what that means. Drunk people take down the entire ferris wheel? Or you mean they jump or fall off? Please clarify, I’m worried drunk people will “take down” a wheel I’m on. If I ever ride one.
By Nick Alexander
June 22, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
It was what it was, a freak accident. Given the nature of such things, it is more interesting that only 1 person so severely wounded, rather than all the passengers plummeting to their death. I looked over ride safety data after the SOB accident, and nationally the largest ride injury/death rate is from drunk people taking down ferris wheels. (I kid you not, at least 3 people a year die taking them down while drunk)
No ride is safe, something could happen. Remember Fabio getting hit by a bird?
By Larry Ride-Guy
June 22, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this
I ride all over the country, I used to build rides too. The best ones are at county fairs, them people know how to put things together. When I used to build them I’d show them what parts would break then tell them how it will sound. In 37 years of making rides we only had 2 problems, none related in death.
By Sad
June 22, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
1 accident and asking for a “huge settlement”!?!? Typical American reaction :(
Sad story, but the simple fact is that this is an isolated issue. Next thing we know is we’ll have some group trying to pass legislation in Congress to ban all amusement park rides.
By billy
June 22, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
I would just like to remind each person in here that although these rides are designed by highly qualified individuals, they design these with certain safety factors in mind. It is expected statistically that some part of the ride will fail at some point in time. It is simple physics. If you drop a mass on a cable and cycle that loading then the cable must be designed for cyclic or impact loading. Other factors can migrate into this as well, such as bird poop reducing friction coefficients.
By Bob
June 22, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
Mark, what are you, a ride inspector or something? What makes you an expert?
By Jean
June 22, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
My prayers go out to that 13 year old girl. NOTHING will ever be the same for her - every hour of the day, every day of the year, every year of her life will be SO much harder than it is for any of us. I never ride any amusement park rides. When I was @ 10, I was on a farris wheel in my small farm town canal days carnival. The bench my sister and I was on was tied together with a rope that they retied every time we went down to the ground. They refused to let us off. This was in 1965.
By JEff
June 22, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
“The rides are too big of a risk due to making them go too fast and too high.”
No one is forcing you to go on them.
By BethS
June 22, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
This is a terrible accident, but it will not deter me from going to amusement parks and enjoying the rides. I go to Kings Island most every summer & I feel that they have high safety standards.
By Daniel Rice
June 22, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
One thing is for sure, I will be thinking twice about encouraging my daugter to continue riding the extreme rides with me! Cant even imagine how the adults feel that were with this little girl. My daughter rides to please me and make me proud, this has changed my outlook. I think Most parks will be affected (atleast for a short time) by this incident. Thoughts and Prayers go out to this brave girl !!
By Ashley Faulk
June 22, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
I dont feel safe on most rides one reason is that most of them are very old even the newest rides could be dangerous…
By Hasher
June 22, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
It’s sad that this girl got hurt. KI was right to close Drop Zone for inspection & that inspection should happen ASAP so the ride will open back up fast but they seem to have a problem keeping rides open. I took my kids to KI this past weekend because all my son wanted to do was ride Firehawk. It wasn’t open the whole time we were there! There were alot of rides that weren’t open, I was angry. I spent way too much money to go to an amusement park and not be able to ride the rides we wanted to.
By Danielle
June 22, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
For the most part accidents like these rarely happen. So i feel pretty safe on rides. I feel bad for the girl she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I do think they should to more check up on the rides. But this sounds like a freak accident.