On August 9, 1973, ten people suffered minor injuries when two cars from a coaster train derailed as it was running through a tunnel. To schedule a free . On July 7, 1984, a 46-year-old woman from. On July 18, 2019, riders were stranded for nearly two hours after its train stopped on the lift hill due to a safety malfunction. A 34-year-old man and his 2-year-old son were both taken to the hospital while another suffered minor injuries. According to a statement provided by the park, his actions were unsafe and unwarranted and he and his family were escorted out of the park, with him being banned afterwards. 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. On March 6, 2016, two individuals broke into the park, went past three fences, and skateboarded down the Tornado water slide as a half pipe. On May 22, 2002, an 11-year-old girl from. Police were still investigating full circumstances of the incident and several victims have filed numerous reports during the time when it took place. May 20, 2017: The Joker, a new roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas, malfunctioned and stranded eight students until 3 a.m. Bad weather rolled through the area, making their wait time even more uncomfortable and stressful. On April 22, 1978, a 12-year-old boy injured his right arm when it was caught between one of the cars he was sitting in and loading platform. The log flume re-opened to the public on July 9, Fitzgerald said. WEATHER . Discover Our Events & Festivals Spring Break Scream Break Grad Nite July Fireworks Oktoberfest Fright Fest Kids Boo Fest Veterans Weekend Holiday in the Park Three summers agoan unspecified "incident" compelled the park to retrain its employees working on the ride. 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. His father filed a $1 million lawsuit against the park for injuries sustained. Sign up for our newsletter to get the inside scoop on what traders are talking about delivered daily to your inbox. On August 30, 2008, 20-year-old Carlos Ibanez was hospitalized after being hit by the train and knocked unconscious when he allegedly climbed multiple security fences to retrieve a hat. On July 13, 1993, a train collided at slow speed with another one at the station, causing injuries to eight people. Firefighters rescued the crew within 30 minutes and speculated that the gondolas flipped due to heavy equipment causing instability. He was taken to the hospital and later died from his injuries. Following this incident, the roller coaster was closed indefinitely as it did not reopen for the 2008 season and was dismantled a year later in 2009. On September 18, 1976, 19 people suffered minor injuries after a coaster train collided into the other that was parked at the station. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. On July 14, 1987, a 32-year-old female worker from. The result of a guest's known, or unknown, health issues. On July 8, 1979, the Mississippi was involved in a fatal incident when it capsized, dumping 50 to 60 sightseers into the lake. 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. Likewise, the state office in charge of inspecting Six Flags rides the main attraction for over 3 million annual visitors hasfailed to respond to repeated requests to make officials available to discuss the incidents or what stepsare being taken to keep visitorssafe. 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. The park remained closed for the remainder of the day, but re-opened as normal the following day. She later died at Lakeland Hospital from blunt-force internal injuries after being struck by a ride vehicle. 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. Spokespeople for the water park and for the, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 19:32. On September 26, 2014, a 15-year-old boy from. The official Six Flags app allows you to make the most of your next visit. Following this incident, the water park was temporarily closed for the remainder of the day as a safety precaution. First responders at the scene of an incident on the El Toro wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson . Tory Eurosceptics could take two weeks to decide whether to back Rishi Sunak's new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. Six Flags Supports State Vaccination Efforts with Ticket Offer Valued at $4 Million. But that faith has been shaken in recent years, Martin said, especially after a 10-year-old girl was thrown to her death while on a "Super Sizzler" ride in an Upper Deerfield amusement park in 2019. On July 11, 2010, a fire broke out in a maintenance building during operating hours, forcing the evacuation and closure of the park. A teenage girl's legs were severed above the ankle while on a thrill ride. Bill Powers of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions says. Three of the students were taken to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure, though no one was seriously injured. The exact cause is unknown, though a Darien Lake spokesperson said it was not due to a ride malfunction. Also in June2021:New Jersey shuts down El Toro roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure after derailment. On May 31, 1995, a 16-year-old park employee suffered injuries after falling from the tracks and was run over by an incoming train. The ride had already been closed for conversion into Twisted Colossus, and no injuries or deaths were reported. When the ride was temporarily shut down, employees fully inspected it and a park spokesperson claimed that it was found to be operating normally. On May 2, 1999, one of the trains stalled between the second and third hills. Firefighters were called to extinguish the flames, but the ride was closed for the rest of the night and the following day. On May 29, 2021, at approximately 11:54 AM, the, On June 14, 2002, three people were injured on the ride when two boats bumped into each other. Those injured complained of increased roughness at the bottom of the third drop - the ride completed its cycle and was closed for inspection. But there have been problems. All passengers were examined by paramedics as a safety precaution once they got off, including one person who had an asthma attack and later recovered. The incident report notes that the train's rear wheel assembly and wood and steel bolts on the track were damaged. There were also repairs to the steel structure of the ride at that time, according to DCA's records. On August 31, 1980, Jamie Pratt, a 17-year-old female park employee from. "The rear up-stop wheel, which prevents the train from lifting, came up on top of the rail," DCA spokeswoman Lisa Ryan said. On May 27, 1984, four passengers were injured after a computer malfunction caused the ride's cables to drop the planes out of position. La Ronde said in a statement "The safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority.". Seven people went to the hospital and at least two sued after developing neck and back problems. Too many, this was an accident that was unheard of at. On June 29, 2005, a 68-year-old guest from the South Maplewood section of. On July 21, 2001, a 42-year-old woman suffered a brain hemorrhage after riding the attraction. State investigators temporarily shut down the ride, but later reopened after no mechanical problems were reported. Before he could ride, he was told by someone that no loose articles or objects could be brought into the attraction and a park employee told him he could leave his cellphone under some foliage in a nearby bamboo grove during the time of his ride. 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. 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. No one was hurt in the accident and passengers had to be evacuated. The victim, who suffered a mild concussion and lacerations, was taken to Parkway Regional Hospital. On March 6, 2021, a 2-year-old boy was fatally struck by a car in the parking lot. The victim sued the park for negligence in May 2018. The first of six teams running a new driver pairing in 2023 is French squad Alpine. But that has not allayed concerns that dangerous events still lie on the tracks especially after dozens of Americans have died in accidents at theme parks over the past few decades. A coroner's report said the girl died from, On April 9, 2004, 21-year-old park employee Bantita Rackchamroon died after being struck by the roller coaster while underneath the track during a test run prior to the park's opening that day. Contact him [email protected]@byMikeDavison Twitter. 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Instead of spending more money to fix the ride which had constant issues, Six Flags decided that the Chiller's time in the park had come to an end. This was the ride's final day of operation, and the ride closed earlier than intended. All were eventually escorted safely off and the ride remained closed following an investigation according to park officials. The rules required riders to have both legs safely secure when boarding the train. The ERG bloc of Conservative MPs has convened a 'star chamber' to sift through . Date: June 14, 1986. On April 19, 1987, an unidentified gunman fired several shots into a crowd on the plaza inside the main gate, wounding one man and sending panicked guests running for safety. 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 . JACKSON, N.J. - First aid teams were dispatched to Six Flags Great Adventure after a report of multiple injuries suffered on the El Toro roller coaster at the New Jersey theme park Thursday. On July 6, 2012, a 67-year-old employee of the park was killed at, On August 21, 2019, at 7:00p.m. a film crew was involved in an incident in which two gondolas flipped over and the crew was stuck 20 feet (6.1m) in the air. 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider A seventh passenger, a nine-year-old boy who bumped his head, was sent to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital for observation and then released. 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. GURNEE, Ill. (WLS) -- Dramatic video shows the chain reaction crash on the Tri-State Tollway in Gurnee, Ill., right by Six Flags Great America that injured eight people. You've got wood and metal and it's all subject to rot.". Six Flags incidents Total ride incident reports filed in N.J. between 2018 and 2021 El Toro 9 Kingda Ka 5 Log Flume 4 Nitro 4 Joker 3 Runaway Train 3 Roaring Rapids 3 Jolly Roger 2 Superman 2. He was reported to be in stable condition at a local hospital, although with serious injuries. While these incidents were required to be reported to regulatory authorities due to where they occurred, they usually fall into one of the following categories: From 2004 to September 2007, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspected Six Flags parks five different times and found a total of four violations. On August 28, 1977, a train collided into another one that was at the station, causing 14 people to be injured. Three of the passengers drowned during the scene and ten were taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Firefighters were also called into the park at the time when it occurred. We are cashless at the gate. In May 2009, four children became ill when the attraction failed to stop at the end of its cycle. She slipped on her way across, fell into a 4-foot pit under the tracks, and was killed instantly when the roller-coaster train struck her at 4 mph. 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