On July 11, 2010, a fire broke out in a maintenance building during operating hours, forcing the evacuation and closure of the park. In December 2017 a section of fiberglass chute was removed on the ride, to be replaced in May 2018,according to DCA records. It has been established that the cause of the fire was due to a short circuit. One of them was taken to a nearby hospital while the other was treated for minor injuries. Martin, the amusement park safety consultant,said repeated problems with ground faults should be treated as a "very serious" issue, noting that it would be a "life or death situation if someone got shocked. On June 13, 2018, a 14-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital in very critical condition after he was rescued from the wave pool. 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. Five of them were taken to the hospital for evaluation. The internet has been filling the communications void, in sometimes unflattering if not informed ways. The cost to fix the ride would not be worth it and they could not be confident in its ability to operate consistently. Six Flags America Octopus On August 3, 2007, a 6-year-old girl fell from the Octopus while the ride was in motion and suffered minor injuries to her head, hip, and leg. Five people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation while seven were taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. On June 23, 2017, a 14-year-old girl from. El Toro, one of the park's signature roller coasters, has remained shuttered since June 29, A 12 -year-old boy got off The Joker roller coaster. 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. On August 25, 2019, a passenger's safety harness malfunctioned when one of the trains began its initial ascent, causing an emergency stop. Roaring Rapids. When her four companions came to her defense, an altercation ensued and Friday stabbed all four. 1999: Six Flags, Alton Towers and Alabama Splash Adventure accidents A woman died and 10 people were injured after their 12-person raft capsized on the Roaring Rapids ride at Six Flags over Texas . However, with high-speed. The roller coaster was allowed to be re-opened the next week after an. 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. Six Flags America Octopus August 3, 2007: A 6-year-old girl fell from the Octopus while the ride was in motion and suffered minor injuries to her head, hip, and leg. On August 20, 1998, eight people suffered minor injuries after a rope underneath the raft was caught on an object, thus making it suddenly stop. At least two of the rides involved in incidents, the Saw Mill Log Flume and El Toro,were shut down by the state for safety violations within the last year, according to a USA TODAY NETWORK review of inspection records for those rides. When the ride finally reopened after already being checked for inspection beforehand, only one of the coaster's trains was running. On June 24, 2018, there were two separate incidents on the attraction - one involving a 27-year-old man from St. Louis. A supporting cable snapped, and the mechanism's anti-rollback devices failed to stop the car from plummeting nearly 60 feet to the bottom of the tower. Another incident on the ride occurred in May of that same year as it malfunctioned when one of the ride's 200 electric motors began smoking and was shut down temporarily for 45 minutes. The victims were taken to Memorial Hospital where one person underwent surgery and another was placed in an intensive care ward. An 18-year-old man was arrested at the scene as he faced criminal charges. He was taken to the hospital and later died from his injuries. On January 5, 1996, two trainers were injured by. The Cobb County Police were called and the child was subsequently taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta where he later died. On March 31, 1974, a woman was reported to be in critical condition after being taken to Arlington Memorial Hospital due to her suffering broken ribs, a fractured pelvis and lacerations after falling 20 feet (6.1m) from the ride. Story:A girl's toes were crushed when the operator of the Cajun Cliffhanger raised the floor of the ridebefore the ride came to a complete stop. In 2001, a 13-year-old boy was ejected from the ride due to a faulty lap bar and suffered broken bones in his head, pelvis, and legs. We are cashless at the gate. The ride had already been inspected earlier that morning with no mechanical problems during its test runs. The victim, who suffered a mild concussion and lacerations, was taken to Parkway Regional Hospital. On July 26, 2021, a man trespassed through a restricted area by climbing on the catwalk next to the wooden supports of the coaster's tracks to bring bottled water to passengers on board a train when it stalled on the lift hill. The ride reopened 12 days later on July 19. Of all the people that were hurt in the accident, one had to be hospitalized. Two employees were taken to the hospital, and while no park guests were on the ride at the time of the accident, one park guest was treated at the park's medical center and released. On June 2, 2017, a group of people who were on a class trip visiting the amusement park suffered injuries when the tram they were riding hydroplaned in the parking lot after a rainstorm, resulting in guests being tossed around. Park officials stated that the employee had been struck by a roller coaster train. In August 2019, a paraplegic man who had a spinal cord injury was grievously injured when his legs became unsecured during the ride, causing him to land onto the restraining bar multiple times. All were eventually escorted safely off and the ride remained closed following an investigation according to park officials. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, and the ride remained closed pending the outcome of an investigation. On June 29, 2021, a train partially derailed when the rear car's up-stop wheels, which are designed to prevent the train from lifting off the track, moved out of place and up onto the track. The ride remained closed until further inspection deemed it was safe to operate. OSHA fined the park US$117,700.[111]. The ride was temporarily shuttered after the malfunction, which sent one guest to the hospital with leg pain and another with an arm injury. Friday's accident occurred the same day a 10-year-old girl was airlifted to a hospital when she was found unconscious after riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. El Toro was shut down for two weeks after inspectors found a defective ground fault circuit interrupter nearthe roller coaster's 181-foot lift hill, according to the inspection records, obtained throughan Open Public Records Act request. The Superman Tower of Power ride at the Six Flags'Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville is shown Thursday, June 21, 2007. Contact him atmdavis@gannettnj.comor@byMikeDavison Twitter. On May 22, 1984, an accident occurred on The Edge, a first generation Freefall ride at Marriott's Great America (now Six Flags Great America) in Gurnee, Illinois. The ride was cleared a week later. The train lost its grip on the tire-driven lift, slid back down the hill into the station, and crashed into a fully occupied train. On May 20, 1990, one of the ride's boats became stuck on the top of the lift hill, which then caused the two boats to collide with each other after the splashdown. Learn more about our park safety protocols and procedures such as new cashless payments. the nation's largest theme-park operator. Two students were reported to have concussions according to the school's superintendent. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Six Flags accident and shutdown reports in 2020, 2021 . On June 28, 2008, a 17-year-old male from, On August 29, 1990, a 31-year-old woman from, On July 27, 2006, a 45-year-old male from. All riders were evacuated and no injuries were reported. On July 10, 2003, a 52-year-old grandmother was strapping her 4-year-old grandson in when the ride started up. On July 8, 1979, the Mississippi was involved in a fatal incident when it capsized, dumping 50 to 60 sightseers into the lake. Story:After losing his hat while riding the Batman: The Ride roller coaster, a teenager jumped over the fence surrounding the coaster to retrieve it. On June 12, 2007, a 14-year-old girl was paralyzed after she fell into a gap between the roller coaster's cars, landing on a concrete floor about 10 feet (3m) below the platform. The Saw Mill Log Flume, freshly reopened after a 17-month shutdown by the state. Physics Day at Six Flags offer knowledge and fun in one sweet deal. On August 28, 2010, two people were stuck on the Poltergeist for two hours. On October 31, 2022, a 9-year-old girl was struck in the face with a cell phone that flew from another rider. 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. On August 10, 2014, at about 3 p.m. EST, 24 riders were trapped on the coaster when a train stalled along the course. The ride had already been closed for conversion into Twisted Colossus, and no injuries or deaths were reported. The train was upright on a curve near one of the highest points on the ride. "They could need maintenance, they've been sitting for over a year. On July 19, 2000, a 12-year-old girl from. The husband was killed, and his wife suffered serious injuries, including losing her legs. Whether the incidents, coming in such quick succession, speak to any wider concerns about safety or worker trainingis unclear. In May 2018, when a man exited the attraction, he suffered serious injuries after stepping on a piece of bamboo which went through his shoe, penetrating through the sole of his right foot. On June 13, 2021, multiple sources claim that four people suffered injuries and a suspect reportedly used pepper spray on a crowd of people as numerous fights broke out inside the park. On May 22, 2002, an 11-year-old girl from. On August 18, 2004, twenty passengers were stranded on the ride 75 feet (23m) above ground for 40 minutes after lightning struck a substation outside the park, causing the ride itself to eventually lose power. That figure includes injuries like twisted ankles and scraped knees,Bill Powers of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions says. On July 10, 2021, a person suffered minor injuries after getting their foot lodged between the coaster's cars and the station platform. The train came to a stop just short of the final brake run, where the riders were safely evacuated. Six Flags acquired the amusement park in 1984 after the theme park division was an earnings disappointment for Marriott. The rider, an Iraq War veteran whose legs had been amputated, was in the front row of the roller coaster when he was thrown from the train during the course. Before the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, closed on Friday night, more than a dozen people were injured when the El Toro roller coaster malfunctioned, according to People. In some cases, these incidents occurred while the park was under different management or ownership. . The coaster was temporarily shut down for inspection, but was found to be operating normally. Several minutes later, swimmers at the pool discovered the boy, underwater and unconscious, prompting them to notify the lifeguards, who pulled him out and performed CPR. 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. The restaurant was declared a total loss and damages were estimated at $125,000. 1984 was the year of Six Flags Great America's worst accident. After returning to a horizontal position, a, On July 18, 1989, an 11-year-old boy from. In 2009, one train was red-tagged because it lacked proper signage but the issue was cleared on the same day. On June 2, 2001, 28-year-old Pearl Santos died of a. The girl's foot was wedged between the floor and the wall. On September 22, 2001, a 16-year-old girl was in distress shortly after riding the roller coaster and died after being taken to Prince George's Hospital Center. The attraction closed temporarily for investigation, but park officials failed to find any evidence on what was determined to be the exact cause of the incident about how the woman fell off the train. 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. In previous interviews with the Network, Martin lauded the way New Jersey handles amusement park safety requiring state approval before a ride's materials are even shipped to New Jersey and inspections during construction to ensure it's built to the manufacturer's exact specifications. According to a report issued by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, there were 1,299 ride-related injuries in the United States and Canada in 2019, about 3.7 injuries for every 1 million amusement and theme park visitors. The girl died, possibly unrelated to this incident, at Egleston Children's Hospital on July 18, 2014 after she had difficulty breathing for nearly two months. In 2019, Darien Lake was rebranded as Six Flags Darien Lake. The DCA typically orders the park to effectuate repairs before opening the ride for the summer season. Passengers were eventually rescued about an hour later as a park worker helped evacuate all of them safely by walking down the catwalk on the side of its tracks. According to a spokesperson for the water park, the man cut in line at the slide, fought through the lifeguards, and jumped onto the slide head-first. "The rear up-stop wheel, which prevents the train from lifting, came up on top of the rail," DCA spokeswoman Lisa Ryan said. The recent incidents occurred on four of the park's most popular rides: "Here in New Jersey, our rides are professionally inspected annually by internal and external experts as required by all New Jersey laws and regulations," spokeswoman Kristin Fitzgerald said in a statement Thursday. Guests had to be evacuated off the area after it smelled strongly of chlorine and was temporarily shut down for inspection once additional chemicals were added. The report stated that the state of California received notice of 80 injuries at Magic Mountain between January 2001 and December 2006. JACKSON - Noel Brown went to Six Flags Great Adventure Sunday for a day of fun. On May 2, 1999, one of the trains stalled between the second and third hills. The collision resulted in minor cuts and bruises to six passengers. Investigations showed that a. On August 9, 1997, a 51-year-old maintenance worker was killed after being struck by a roller coaster train. For all the fear associated with those rides, things are relatively safe at theme parks across the country. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. Six Flags Great America is a 304-acre (123 ha) amusement park located in Gurnee, Illinois, within the northern Chicago metropolitan area.The amusement park originally opened as Marriott's Great America on May 29, 1976, as one of two theme parks built by the Marriott Corporation. The four victims were taken to the hospital, where one underwent abdominal surgery for his wound. On August 25, 2022, 13 riders reported back pain and other minor injuries after riding the coaster. He later died from the injuries sustained in the accident. She was treated by the park medical staff before being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Story:A man was thrown from the final turn of the Superman: Ride of Steel roller coaster, hitting the rail and then falling only a few feet to the ground below. May 13, 2021. No one was injured in the accident. The ride reopened the next day. The local fire department used an. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The victim sued the park for negligence in May 2018. On September 1, 2017, a 19-year-old male worker was struck by a lift truck as he was stringing lights near a park fountain. 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