Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[Lewisc]

Internet sources said the coaster was running, after midnight, with sandbags or dummies.

 

[fatmanatee]

 

[Gurkensalat]

The restraint system is still pretty safe. The company that built the coaster has an excellent track record with safety and they have several coasters with this type of seat

I want to reiterate that. Mack Rides is a premium coaster builder in Germany and those seats are first class. I have ridden several of their coasters; you are always safely pinned down. I can´t imagine that the ride as it is could have caused the death.

 

[voxparse]

I saw a comment from another site made by someone claiming to be a doctor. It said

"This is a sad case; spinal cord injured wheel-chair bound patients commonly have vasomotor deconditioning & cannot quickly adjust their hemodynamics to g-force changes. Blood pooling is common. Add to that very rapid unchecked shifts in body position consequent to his paraplegic or paraparetic state, and the substrate for blunt force soft tissue trauma is there as well."

That was the most enlightening explanation that I have seen so far. Still doesn't quite explain how he could have gotten more banged up than test dummies. But to be fair, I was trying to picture myself on a rollercoaster with that kind of restraint system and how it would go if I didn't try to hold my body upright at all. I think I would have major whiplash at the very least. I'm am shocked that there is no upper body restraints.

Ehhhh, I'd be hesitant to believe that. I happen to be a paraplegic and regularly talk to a lot of very very good doctors and regularly check in on what, if any, limitations I should observe due to my disability. I've even directly asked my cardiologist if I should avoid any coasters and was very blunty told there is no additional risk. Granted, my example, just like the one from that potential doctor, is a single data point but it doesn't pass the smell test.

 

[voxparse]

Ehhhh, I'd be hesitant to believe that. I happen to be a paraplegic and regularly talk to a lot of very very good doctors and regularly check in on what, if any, limitations I should observe due to my disability. I've even directly asked my cardiologist if I should avoid any coasters and was very blunty told there is no additional risk. Granted, my example, just like the one from that potential doctor, is a single data point but it doesn't pass the smell test.

Also FWIW, I have ridden both Stardust and Velocicoaster and legitimately felt in danger on Velocicoaster whereas Stardust's lap bar felt far more secure on my much smaller than normal legs. I will never ride VC again. One and done.

 

[CharlotteStreet]

Not going to quote anyone but in this situation we know nothing until the final report is released because there are simply more questions than answers. Ever changing story.

• He might have been dead on site. It is common knowledge that theme parks want no one declared on property so they move them as quickly as possible to a hospital for that.
• We know the man is in a wheelchair from a spinal “accident” but that does not mean that folks in wheelchairs should not be allowed to ride roller coasters.
• It has been reported he is taking medication – so is half the world. Until we know what kind of medication and it’s impact that is a non-issue.
• We need to stop assuming it was an underlying condition – the autopsy alone seems to eliminate that. If that were primary COD it would be stated, maybe even say “natural causes”. They didn’t even include it as a secondary cause at this point.
• BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA is a serious COD and this will be a big investigation, and primarily in to the ride system. We don’t even know where the trauma occurred, people are just guessing. All I’ve seen from witnesses is “he was slumped” “there was blood”.

“Dennis Speigel, CEO and founder of consulting firm International Theme Park Services, called the autopsy’s conclusion “pretty shocking,” and he said it raised more questions than it answered. Was it the head or the chest? Was he banging around? Was he in his seat properly?” Speigel said. “Was it an accident caused by the ride or him doing something?”

It may well boil down to the perfect storm of freak accidents BUT it could also lead to a large lawsuit and changes to big coaster restraints and rider requirements.

I wonder if, as a result of the accident that caused his spinal cord injury, he had some type of large metal implant in his body that became dislodged over the course of 6 rides and caused "blunt force trauma," and reportedly, also external bleeding? Does anyone have medical knowledge to speculate as to whether this would be possible?