Officials states that the incident was reported to be as a false alarm and the park was reopened. Park staff and paramedics treated the boy before he was transported to the hospital. All were treated at Arlington Memorial Hospital and released. 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. In December 2017 a section of fiberglass chute was removed on the ride, to be replaced in May 2018,according to DCA records. Five passengers were injured and were treated at local hospitals. Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman called it a "shocking and horrible tragedy . 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 June 8, 2002, a 4-year-old girl was critically injured when she slipped beneath the restraining bar and fell from the Starfish ride while riding with her mother, receiving critical head injuries. On September 30, 2017, several guests on the Silver Bullet suffered injuries as the ride came to a stop. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital treated for injuries and later released. A mechanical inspection was performed and no problems were found with the ride; it reopened the following day. In 2019, Six Flags faced a lawsuit that went to the, On September 23, 2017, at around 9pm during the park's annual Fright Fest event, a family from. The incident occurred in a fenced off area between the, On May 11, 1984, eight teenage visitors were trapped in the. Learn more about our park safety protocols and procedures such as new cashless payments. On July 12, 1976, two girls were left stranded on the ride for more than an hour. The passenger, a 14-year-old girl, was hospitalized with leg injuries and released. The ride reopened the next day. Freeze strands riders in mid-air, none was injured", "St. Louis man hurt on Six Flags ride the same day it opens", "New Six Flags ride Typhoon Twister closed after person injured", "Caseyville man assaults Daffy Duck at Six Flags, Eureka police say", "Police: Skateboarders damage water slide", "After fire, White Water to reopen Tuesday", Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Incidents_at_Six_Flags_parks&oldid=1140163117, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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. All suffered minor injuries with 10 people being treated at the scene and two being sent to a local hospital for further evaluation. After two incidents raised red flags at Six Flags Great Adventure last month, a pair of roller coasters at the popular thrill park were temporarily shut down this week following separate. The report stated that the state of California received notice of 80 injuries at Magic Mountain between January 2001 and December 2006. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant impact on the parks or park operations, or are otherwise significantly noteworthy. On May 10, the ride was finally considered to be in compliance with state laws governing carnival and amusement ride safety just 34 days before the tipped-boat incident, which led to another nearly month-long shutdown while "internal and external experts investigated the incident and a full safety inspection was completed," Fitzgerald said in the statement. 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. 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. In some cases, these incidents occurred while the park was under different management or ownership. On July 19, 2000, a 12-year-old girl from. On September 10, 2016, at 1:30p.m., an unspecified phone threat caused an evacuation of the park, though a security sweep did not detect any suspicious activity. The official Six Flags app allows you to make the most of your next visit. Officials decided that operator error was the cause for the accident. It took three hours to rescue the uninjured students. We are cashless at the gate. 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. On August 7, 1999, eight riders suffered injuries when their raft flipped over, trapping them underneath the water. On September 18, 1976, 19 people suffered minor injuries after a coaster train collided into the other that was parked at the station. The ride reopened 12 days later on July 19. "Additionally, we have an outstanding maintenance team, and our maintenance and safety experts complete extensive safety checks before opening the rides each day. A lawsuit was filed on August 6, 2021. Of the 22 people that were on board the ride, 10 of them suffered injuries and were taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital for treatment. 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. Physics Day at Six Flags offer knowledge and fun in one sweet deal. The fire was contained to a single building, located adjacent to the park's wave pool and used principally for storage. On June 25, 1995, the red train failed to stop in the station and collided with the blue train which had already started to climb the lift. On August 28, 2010, two people were stuck on the Poltergeist for two hours. The ride wasbriefly shut down in 2015 for failing to provide a cover for a differentground fault circuit interrupter. The Department of Community Affairsoversees inspections of carnivals and amusement park rides, including theme parks. It was the third violent incident of the day, following two earlier unrelated stabbings. 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. La Ronde said in a statement "The safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority.". Two other rides at the amusement park were also affected with the fuse. Of these, 5 were hospitalized and all 5 were released shortly after. 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 weight that malfunctioned apparently didn't reach one of the devices in time for it to respond. Ride: Mindbender. On May 29, 2004, Jack E Brouse, a 52-year-old ride mechanic from, On May 3, 2003, 11-year-old Erica Emmons from, On March 11, 2008, a 46-year-old man from, On August 16, 2006, a 10-year-old girl from, On September 9, 2017, 50-year-old Scott Barnes from. 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. He was decapitated in the process. A court upheld $1.5 million for the case. If safety is their first priority, why don't they come out with their team of people responsible for that ride, and let them field questions," askedKen Martin, a Virginia-based amusement park safety analyst who works with parks, fairs, government entities, insurance companies and attorneys. Other complaints were safety-related, such as notices of ride operators talking on cell phones while operating rides. The ride was shut down because of this. The ERG bloc of Conservative MPs has convened a 'star chamber' to sift through . Six Flags Great Adventurehas disputed that characterization: Fitzgerald, the park spokeswoman, said the train's safety systems "worked as designed.". Lisa Ryan, a DCA spokeswoman, described the issue as a derailment, with the wheels coming up on top of the rail. But there have been problems. On June 24, 2018, there were two separate incidents on the attraction - one involving a 27-year-old man from St. Louis. On May 29, 2014, opening day, a 14-year-old girl fell ill while using the park's wave pool. According to park officials, the malfunction was not reported to have been serious, but the ride was shut down temporarily after safety inspections were made for it to re-open. Three summers agoan unspecified "incident" compelled the park to retrain its employees working on the ride. The suspected shooter was arrested by the police and also charged with aggravated assault. Park staff responded immediately to the incident and the victim was safely removed from the ride, then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. 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. 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. Story:A woman drowned when the inflatable boat she was in unexpectedly deflated and overturned in 2 to 3 feet of water and she was trapped underneath. On July 11, 2016, a malfunction occurred on one of the ride's cables. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider While visiting the site as a consultant after the incident, Martin discovered numerous issues he said should have been easily identified by state inspectors and rectified by the park, includingan unlabeled and uncovered control panel. On July 13, 2016, a bomb threat was called in right before the park opened. Authorities ruled it as an accident. "They could need maintenance, they've been sitting for over a year. Story:After not being strapped into her shoulder harness properly, a girl fell to her death during the loop-the-loop roller-coaster ride. On June 1, 1998, twenty passengers had to be evacuated off the ride after the train suddenly stopped on its tracks. Six Flags Great America Announces April 24 Opening. Special Events at Six Flags Great America April 27 2023 Physics Days Take your classroom to new heights! The first of six teams running a new driver pairing in 2023 is French squad Alpine. The ride was closed for almost two months following the incident, but later reopened on August 4. 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. WEATHER . A park spokesperson said that the ride's vehicle was already inspected and found to be operating normally. On July 13, 1993, a train collided at slow speed with another one at the station, causing injuries to eight people. The result of a guest's known, or unknown, health issues. On July 8, 1997, four young men were stabbed at the park (known as Adventure World at the time). On August 25, 2022, 13 riders reported back pain and other minor injuries after riding the coaster. Furthermore, it is unclear what steps the park will take to ensure that an accident of this type does not reoccur. A lawsuit was then filed for the injuries he sustained. 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 Sept. 7, four people were. On September 5, 1982, a blown fuse caused one of the coaster trains to stop abruptly when it was 126 feet (38m) on the lift hill. Network interview requests, including ofinspectors and enforcement officials, went unanswered. 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. Six Flags has 27 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada with world-class coasters, family rides for all ages, up-close animal encounters and thrilling water parks. Police were still investigating full circumstances of the incident and several victims have filed numerous reports during the time when it took place. An 11-year-old boy was killed and his brother was left in a medically induced coma after their raft overturned on a rapids ride in Iowa on July 4. Video of aftermath of NJ Six Flags log flume ride accident reveals broken railing. 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. An El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure incident left 13 injured in New Jersey Thursday. The coaster was temporarily shut down for inspection, but was found to be operating normally. 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. He was reported to be in stable condition at a local hospital, although with serious injuries. Reports ranged from nosebleeds and heat exhaustion, to neck and back injuries from various rides. The investigators claimed that park workers didn't adhere to rules advertised at the entrance of the ride. On April 12, 2019, a worker fell to his death from a structure. 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. Most of the repairs and replacements werecompleted by April, but DCA inspectors found additional rotted conduits and a loose section of wooden wall, according to inspection records. Firefighters were also called into the park at the time when it occurred. At the time of the fire, the park was closed. 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. In June and July, inspectors found overgrown vegetation near the track and a loose handrail and tripping hazard on ramps, which employees were instructed to fix and remove. For incidents at the former Six Flags Elitch Gardens, see, For incidents at the former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, see, For incidents at the defunct Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, see, Haunted Castle (Six Flags Great Adventure), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Three injured in drive-by shooting at Six Flags amusement park, accident at the Great America park in California, Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor, Incidents at Premier Parks Properties Elitch Gardens, Incidents at Herschend parks Kentucky Kingdom, Incidents at Cedar Fair parks Geauga Lake, "Worker dies in La Ronde accident in Montreal", "Firefighters rescue three people in La Ronde Ferris wheel incident", "History Through Our Eyes: July 8, 1979, Drownings at La Ronde", "A Passenger's Safety Harness Broke On A La Ronde Roller Coaster In Montreal - MTL Blog", "Six Flags Roller Coaster Death Increases Concern About Accident Trend", "Six Flags: Riders stuck for 2 hours on 'Firebird' coaster in Maryland", "Video shows column of new Six Flags ride shaking, park shuts it down over safety concerns", "Six Flags Ride Shuts Down, Video Shows Structure Shaking: Report", "Stabbed Men Were Aiding Female Friend, Police Say; Suspect Held in Adventure World Incident", "State to Probe Wave Pool's Role in Boy's Death", "Death of Boy, 9, at Md. Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor is a world-class theme park and water park located between Chicago and Milwaukee on I-94 in Gurnee, Illinois. The man was reportedly rocking the car before it fell. 28 passengers on board the train had to be brought down once power was eventually restored. No injuries were reported and minimal damage was sustained to the backstage area, though damages were evaluated at a total of $32,000. On July 21, 2001, a 42-year-old woman suffered a brain hemorrhage after riding the attraction. 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. In 2009, one train was red-tagged because it lacked proper signage but the issue was cleared on the same day. We recommend the Diamond Pass for the best parking! She suffered cuts and torn ligaments to her wrist and hands after riding and was taken to a nearby hospital to have surgery on her left hand. 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 April 2, 2014, at around 9pm, a fire broke out in the back of the Grand Music Hall theater. According to the National Safety Council'smost recent survey of conditions at parks,1,299 people were injured. El Toro is one of the tallest wooden rollercoasters in the world with a maximum speed of 70 mph. El Toro is a far newer ride, opening in 2006 as one of the tallest and fastest wooden roller coasters in the world. . On September 8, 2014, a fire broke out atop Colossus's lift hill. Natalie DiBlasio hosts USA NOW on recent roller coaster accidents and ride safety. The ride had already been inspected earlier that morning with no mechanical problems during its test runs. On October 5, 2019, a 36-year-old man from, On May 16, 1999, a 37-year-old male guest from. Roaring Rapids. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. On September 7, 2019, the ride remained closed for inspection after the train engine partially derailed from its track and tipped over. On August 28, 1977, a train collided into another one that was at the station, causing 14 people to be injured. Contact him atmdavis@gannettnj.comor@byMikeDavison Twitter. March 18, 2021. Firefighters were called to extinguish the flames, but the ride was closed for the rest of the night and the following day. There were also repairs to the steel structure of the ride at that time, according to DCA's records. She later died at Lakeland Hospital from blunt-force internal injuries after being struck by a ride vehicle. 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. For all the fear associated with those rides, things are relatively safe at theme parks across the country. After returning to a horizontal position, a, On July 18, 1989, an 11-year-old boy from. (For a closer look at the yesteryear of amusement rides in New Jersey, tune into HBO Max's "Class Action Park," whichnoted how, as a reviewer wrote, "Broken bones, otherinjuries and deaths throughout the parkput stress on the local ambulance corps, generated further scrutiny and triggered violations that led to Action Parks closure in 1995."). Investigations showed that a. 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. 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. The log flume re-opened to the public on July 9, Fitzgerald said. Human error was cited as the cause of the accident; this marked the last time that two trains operated on the coaster. Several passengers were treated by first aid staff and the ride closed for inspection and evaluation. Seven people went to the hospital and at least two sued after developing neck and back problems. A brain hemorrhage after riding the coaster raft flipped over, trapping them underneath water. 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