The iconic Superman ride at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois has become a beloved attraction for roller coaster enthusiasts and Superman fans alike. On August 18, 1977, a 15-year-old girl was injured after falling 15 feet (4.6m) from the ride. First responders at the scene of an incident on the El Toro wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson . Three of the students were taken to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure, though no one was seriously injured. "They're not going to do that, because it'll show they're weak or be construed as admitting liability but the public, we need to know what causes these things," Martin said. 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. 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. West, 22, was one of six young people who died in a Barrie single-vehicle crash in the early hours of Sunday morning. Now that guests are returning in droves, Martin suspects that some employees may be a little rusty in their duties, riders may be a little antsy for the thrill of a roller coaster and the rides themselves could have been impacted after going without regular use. 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 ride had already been inspected earlier that morning with no mechanical problems during its test runs. He had that, but he also stumbled . 1984 was the year of Six Flags Great America's worst accident. According to the National Safety Council'smost recent survey of conditions at parks,1,299 people were injured. The victim sued the park for negligence in May 2018. She later died at Lakeland Hospital from blunt-force internal injuries after being struck by a ride vehicle. Onecommenter to the Asbury Park Press Facebook page simply asked: "How is Six Flags not shut down yet?". Remember to buy your parking online before you visit. 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. In some cases, these incidents occurred while the park was under different management or ownership. No one was injured. 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. The victim, who suffered a mild concussion and lacerations, was taken to Parkway Regional Hospital. The following article is a summary of notable incidents at the amusement parks and water parks that are operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. A park spokesperson said that the ride's vehicle was already inspected and found to be operating normally. (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."). Roaring Rapids. Six Flags issued written assurances that its rides were safe but declined to make officials available to answer questions. On June 20, 2021, one of the rides supports began to shake, causing an emergency stop of the ride. If you have suffered a serious injury in an amusement park, theme park, or fair accident the experienced Six Flags injury attorneys of The Reiff Law Firm can fight for you. The ride was removed in September 2015 following these incidents. 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. 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. Natalie DiBlasio hosts USA NOW on recent roller coaster accidents and ride safety. 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. Of these, 5 were hospitalized and all 5 were released shortly after. When the ride finally reopened after already being checked for inspection beforehand, only one of the coaster's trains was running. It was the third violent incident of the day, following two earlier unrelated stabbings. The husband was killed, and his wife suffered serious injuries, including losing her legs. The passenger, a 14-year-old girl, was hospitalized with leg injuries and released. On September 6, 2021, a guest was taken to the hospital complaining of back and neck pain after riding the Tornado waterslide. On July 15, 2012, a goose was trapped in the ride's conveyor belt. Following this incident, the water park was temporarily closed for the remainder of the day as a safety precaution. A park manager claimed that her lap bar might have come undone during the ride. infamous, injury-riddled theme park in North Jersey, tipped over one boat full of riders on June 13, 'The Joker' injury 'super scary' for son, mother says, New Jersey shuts down El Toro roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure after derailment, Book recounts history of Action Park, 'America's most dangerous amusement park', Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. May 13, 2021. She slid backwards and hit herself on a pole. More than 290 million people visited a theme park in the US in 2010, enjoying 1.7 billion rides. The DCA typically orders the park to effectuate repairs before opening the ride for the summer season. In July 2014, a dozen lawsuits were filed against the park and the Rockford Park District after many guests complained of suffering spinal and back injuries while on the ride. In 2006, there were 109 complaints by Magic Mountain guests due to various incidents, according to an annual report from the Amusement Safety Organization. The coaster was closed for the rest of the 2006 season. "It is one of our signature attractions, and we are working diligently to reopen the ride following testing and a full safety inspection by both internal and external experts," she said. On August 25, 2022, 13 riders reported back pain and other minor injuries after riding the coaster. But how did the park manage to get Superman [] On June 3, 1984, a mechanical problem caused a train to stop abruptly, causing four people to be hospitalized. On August 8, 1968, ride operator John Raymond Nelson approached the ride before it stopped so he could quickly unload the passengers. 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. 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. 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 September 6, 2009, the body of a Pennsylvania man, William Sutherland, was found in one of the small lakes located inside of the parking lot. Firefighters were called to extinguish the flames, but the ride was closed for the rest of the night and the following day. Several people were taken to the hospital after firefighters picked them up using cherry pickers. 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. The ride was temporarily shuttered after the malfunction, which sent one guest to the hospital with leg pain and another with an arm injury. Two students were reported to have concussions according to the school's superintendent. In 2019, Darien Lake was rebranded as Six Flags Darien Lake. Crews started dismantling the. A mechanical inspection was performed and no problems were found with the ride; it reopened the following day. On April 10, 2022, at around 6:30 pm, several guests were evacuated from the ride's surrounding area when an electrical malfunction caused smoke to spread around its interior. Six Flags Great Adventure is a household name across the tri-state area, welcoming 3.4 million visitors in 2018, according to a report . On August 9, 1973, ten people suffered minor injuries when two cars from a coaster train derailed as it was running through a tunnel. "They could need maintenance, they've been sitting for over a year. Also in June2021:New Jersey shuts down El Toro roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure after derailment. The term incidents refers to major accidents, injuries, or deaths that occur at a park. March 18, 2021. 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. "Additionally, we have an outstanding maintenance team, and our maintenance and safety experts complete extensive safety checks before opening the rides each day. Special Events at Six Flags Great America April 27 2023 Physics Days Take your classroom to new heights! While the federal government haslaws in place regarding temporary amusement parks, such as those that travel, the rest of the amusement park industry is governed on a state-by-state basis. Park officials said that they believe the girl fell because she was standing up while the ride was moving. 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. On September 10, 2007, OSHA cited Great America with 38 safety violations, alleging "multiple serious and repeat violations at the amusement park, ranging from defective emergency brakes on an industrial truck to a lack of labeling procedures for preventing inadvertent machine start-ups." On May 10, 1998, a six-car train had nearly reached the top of the first hill when smoke began wafting from the track. Network interview requests, including ofinspectors and enforcement officials, went unanswered. 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. Airlifted to the. Story:After not being strapped into her shoulder harness properly, a girl fell to her death during the loop-the-loop roller-coaster ride. One of them was taken to a nearby hospital while the other was treated for minor injuries. The incident report notes that the train's rear wheel assembly and wood and steel bolts on the track were damaged. 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. On June 24, 2018, there were two separate incidents on the attraction - one involving a 27-year-old man from St. Louis. The employee was reportedly found underneath the attraction in a restricted area, appearing to have suffered head trauma. A newlywed couple were violently rocking the car back and forth, causing it to detach from the cable. 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 ride remained closed until further inspection deemed it was safe to operate. The coaster was temporarily shut down in order for the brakes on the tracks to be adjusted, plus safety tests were made to make sure it was operating normally as usual. This caused the liner to come loose, creating friction on the cable and preventing the train from accelerating to the correct speed. 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. On July 8, 2011, 29-year-old James Hackemer fell to his death from the coaster. Five of the riders were hospitalized with back, neck, and mouth injuries. 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 January 5, 1996, two trainers were injured by. All of them were treated at local hospitals. 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. 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. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital treated for injuries and later released. No injuries were reported to any of the guests who were using it. On May 2, 1999, a 17-year-old boy suffered near-fatal stab wounds in the ride's queue by a 33-year-old man from. 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. Story:As the riders ascended the Superman: Tower of Power ride, a cable snapped, whipped around, and severed a 13-year-old girl's feet. 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. Park officials stated that the employee had been struck by a roller coaster train. Here's why Facebook and Google care. On July 1, 1972, five people were injured, two seriously, after two cars collided. The park remained closed for the remainder of the day, but re-opened as normal the following day. On August 14, 2021, a young boy slipped and fell into the park's wave pool. We offer lots of group ticket packages, to match every event size and activity. Story:Twenty-three people were stuck upside down on the Demon coaster for nearly three hours after one of the trains unexpectedly stopped moving during a vertical loop. 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. 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. A lawsuit was filed on August 6, 2021. 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. He was decapitated in the process. On August 25, 2018, a fight broke out inside the park between five people, who were all arrested for causing a disturbance. 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