3 amusement parks near me, 3 deaths so far this season.

[Kimberle]

Six Flags in MA, man fall off coaster.

Lake Compounce, Mother and 5 year old son walking when a tree branch falls on them, killing the child.

Rye Playland - This weekend, a 7 year old girl fall off a ride (don't remember the name) to her death.

Plus, we've had problems with local carvinals, too.......

I don't think I want to go to any amusement parks this summer.....

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Good God!!

 

[DoeWDW]

So sad for these tragedies - especially when they occur in places that are meant to bring happiness.

It does tend to leave me feeling uneasy about rides in general.

 

[vald1977]

Originally posted by DoeWDW
So sad for these tragedies - especially when they occur in places that are meant to bring happiness.

It does tend to leave me feeling uneasy about rides in general.

Me too.

 

[shep]

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Very tragic.

It appears the 7yo got out of her seat on the "Scrambler" ride.

Really makes me think things through.

Thanks for the link! Sorry about the edit.

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by The Mystery Machine
I am trying to look up why the 7yo died, but so far no luck. I guess they are tight-lipped on it.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/05/23/park.death.ap/index.html

So sad for all the families involved in all these tragedies.

 

[birdiesunshine]

Kimberle,
Where are you from in CT?

I love Rye Playland and was really sad to hear about that little girl. My question is, how did she stand up on the ride. Wasn't it a roller coaster with restraints???

 

[Stepharoonie!]

 

[zurgswife]

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by birdiesunshine
Kimberle,
Where are you from in CT?

I love Rye Playland and was really sad to hear about that little girl. My question is, how did she stand up on the ride. Wasn't it a roller coaster with restraints???

I'm maybe 20 minutes from Playland. I've never been to the ride area. I've heard that she was kneeling instead of sitting. I don't think they really know "for sure" yet. It really doesn't matter, the ride operators should have been paying attention and once a person is "buckled in", s/he should be unable to "get out" till the ride stops.

 

[pjlla]

I have my heart in my throat when my kids ride on things at these local amusement parks. And those "portable" carnival rides are almost completely off limits!! But I never give it a second thought at WDW! .....................P

 

[Princess Dot]

Having been on that Mind Scrambler ride with my kids at Playland, I am so upset about that poor little girl's death.

The ride is just like the regular scrambler where you are whipped around, but it is in the dark with lots of loud music and some flashing light type effects. Sooo upsetting to imagine what happened that night. You do really get pulled by the forces in the ride, and you can not really fight them. It is the kind of ride where everyone squooshes the person at the end as the ride whips around, and no matter how hard you try it seems you can't pull yourself away from them. (Does this make any sense? I'm sure everyone has ridden a Scrambler ride)

It doesn't surprise me that she was allowed to kneel. The staff at playland are mostly kids and from my experiences they are not too diligent about their duties, to put it mildly.

Playland is a really cool place, very Art Deco in design and brings you back to the old days. It can get a little crazy on the weekends with lots of teens and some "urban youth"(to quote a recent thread) but we still go there as it brings back a lot of memories from when I was little.

This is just another reminder that parents really need to be on top of things all the time with their kids. I'm sure there is a sign that says you must be seated or something like that . This girl was only 7, for pete's sake. I would have thought that an adult would have been with her and made sure she was seated properly. That does not excuse the ride operator at all not do I mean to blame any of her family. I just know that I will be extra cautious this summer with my kids and rides.

 

[chelsea&austinsmom]

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

"One of her girlfriends told police that each time she got a little more brave on the ride," Montalto said, "and that may have led to her final act of kneeling on the ride."

They noticed her kneeling but nobody thought to stop the ride. How sad.

 

[Evil Princess]

Most of the time at amusement parks deaths are at the fault of the rider, very rarely are the rides fault themselves.

If the girl was kneeling, even if she was allowed to by a stupid ride op, that doesn't make it the rides fault. I understand the un-easyness, but really they are very safe machines when used properly.

BTW, someone said something about those portable carnivals being off limits for their kids...I 100% agree with you. There are sites that document all accidents on rides and the vast majority of them happen at traveling carnivals. Those rides are assembled and dis-assembled and don't get the same care as those at amusement parks.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Originally posted by Kimberle
I'm maybe 20 minutes from Playland. I've never been to the ride area. I've heard that she was kneeling instead of sitting. I don't think they really know "for sure" yet. It really doesn't matter, the ride operators should have been paying attention and once a person is "buckled in", s/he should be unable to "get out" till the ride stops.

No one knows, but they are speculating that she turned in her seat to speak to/look at a relative/friend. The problem with this ride (from what I remember) is that it is not a true belt/harness like you'd have on a coaster. This ride is kind of like the spider, but no matter what happens at the start of the ride the operators sort of lose control - the whole ride goes dark - like Space Mountain dark. The bigger issue here I think is even though this poor little girl met the height requirement, as a 7 year old is she capable of understanding the dangers involved in not following safety instructions, and are parents willing to take that risk - I know I would not be willing to allow my child to take that risk knowing the speed and potential for danger on that particular ride.