Decapitation at SFoG

Soggy:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/24/na-victims-of-themselves/

It's not the exact article I read about a year ago on the subject, but it still has a lot of information to show you exactly what I am talking about.

Bunkey666, I wasn't saying that the kid was mentally disabled or suicidal. I was comparing his risk-taking teenage mindset. Some teens may not filter dangerous behaviors, just like someone who is mentally disabled. Other than that, I really like your post and can agree with most of it.

8.3 look at the doorways behind the fence. They look to be the same height as the fence. Make me think they are 6ft.

Having not been to SFoG in several years. How close do the bottom of the trains come to the ground? I am having a hard time believeing that someone could have kicked him hard enough to do this type of damage without being injured.

The reason for my question, could an average sized 17 year old boy have been hit by a train standing on the ground or would he have to have been jumping in order to get hit? Just trying to figure out if he was trying to take a short cut back into the park, retrieve a lost hat, or was trying to grab hold of riders as was first reported. *** Edited 6/30/2008 2:45:01 AM UTC by Kraven the Raven***

Check out this photo Kraven.
http://rcdb.com/ig421.htm?picture=1

Crashmando, now that I am home I can see that its a normal 6ft fence.

Thank you, LostKause. Now, I'm NOT saying that what the kid did wasn't stupid because it certainly WAS, but you're absolutely right that this kid may have not filtered correctly. Still, what about his friends? Not ONE of them said, "Dude, let's not do this?" Peer pressure? Bunch of bad@$$ kids? Did they ALL have filtration problems? Hrrmmm....

Actually, had something happen today that really scared everyone: A guy in line for Voodoo entered the ride platform and waited outside the gate instead of behind it like everyone else. Luckily, a ride op immediately saw it and hit the E-stop before anything else could happen. Still, it frightened quite a few people in line, and I actually heard more than one person go, "What was he THINKING?" This guy appeared to be 17 or 18 as well. In all fairness, I think he got his seat stolen because line jumpers were in full effect today, and he didn't know what to do because the gates had already closed. Still, if he had tripped or anything, he would have gone right into the oncoming coaster as it ripped through the station. A girl next to me had heard about the Six Flags thing, and she said something to the effect of people just don't learn. The kid wasn't trying to break any rules, so it wasn't exactly the same thing, but...it was just a little freaky knowing what I know about this recent Georgia death.

See, the thing is that it doesn't even matter if this kid had the ability to assess the danger appropriately. There was a fence in place and a sign posted that was meant to do that for him.

Whether it was to retrieve a hat, follow through on a dare, or take a short cut, this is really about just another person who thought the rules don't apply to him/her.

And in addition to the family of the person who died, who speaks for all of the riders who should never have been subjected to such a gruesome thing? Their lives are forever changed because of this, too.

The whole situation sucks.

How horrible must it have been for the people on the ride to realize that a person is standing (walking or whatever) directly in the path of the train. Since nobody on the train was injured, it seems that it had to be the frame supporting the cars that struck the kid.

http://rcdb.com/ig421.htm?picture=3

Even if you could explain away the fences and warning signs, I can't understand how this kid did not see or hear the train approaching. For God's sake, the train can't veer or swerve. Did he think the train would pass over his head? I don't know, I can't fathom it at this point.

It might not have been being hit by the train that caused the decapitation. A witness (see CNN.com video) says the train tossed him into a support.

My one question is this: Did the two boys get their handstamped before leaving the park?

The only scenario that I really think SF could pay through the nose for is if the kids were denied re-entry. Then a lawyer could argue that SF staff left the two children visiting from outside the state in a desperate panic which led to the drastic effort of jumping two fences in what they saw as their only hope to be reunited with their group.

I am by no means trying to offer justification to what they did, only suggesting what I think would be the only potential case used against the park.

Considering the facts already released (does anyone read CNN.com?) your hypothesis wouldn't hold water.

How could it be argued that the kids' failure to get their hands' stamped put them in a life-threatening situation?

This kid put himself in that situation... two fences took some time to get over, he would have seen the trains going... he clearly had no sense of the real danger he was in.

Something about the atmoshere of theme parks might be blaimed; the constant act of death-defying maneuvers through space on rollercoasters might leave someone with the impression that it's all an illusion: that it doesnt go that fast, that low, its not that dangerous... the park is just being over-protective.

Sounds like little thought went into the danger of the situation, more into whatever the goal was: be it a hat, to touch the ride, or fulfill the obligation of a dare... death was likely not the desired result.

I feel bad for the kid, and his family, and everyone involved. Its a tragic situation for everyone.

Just be careful out there;

Stop. Think, Walk Away. Live Above the Influence.

UPDATE:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080630/ap_on_re_us/six_flags_death

Thanks Moosh.

I'm still wondering why no one seems to know the motivation of entering the resrticted area when there was another person who entered with him.

Why don't they just ask that person?

The friend has been interviewed by the police and I suspect the deceased's family knows the reason. Catch the comment from the family member at the end of that newsstory? Telling, doncha think?

So can we officially mark off the "trying to retrieve a hat" theory?

If he really wanted that hat, it seems he would have searched for it after the ride, instead of going to the picnic...

So...

I think a few things will come out of this:

1. all fences will be 30 feet high and coated with grease, barbed wire and electrified in order to keep the morons out from restricted areas. Heck, let's toss in a few velociraptors for good measure.

2. SF automatically pay a family $2 million if a family member gets killed.

3. Laywers will have kiosks right in the main plazas of all SF parks.

4. You will have to sign a waiver when you purchase an admission ticket.

5. Park admission will rise to $100 a person to cover these new saftey measures.

Anything I missed?

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Lord Gonchar said:
Why don't they just ask that person?

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I assume they have. However, journalists probably don't have much access to whatever is going on, and there may even be a criminal investigation considering there are other people involved who aren't dead. They're also probably interviewing people on the train, ride-ops, off ride witnesses and any other employees who may have been in the area, plus there is an autopsy. Stuff takes time and most players probably aren't too keen on talking to press unofficially.

http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/cobb/six-flags-0628/

If you look at picture 5, you can see that the fence is not really an easy one to scale. The last picture shows two fences side by side. Are these the two he jumped? There's barbed wire on there, seems that'd be detraction enough.

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Hopman said:
So...

I think a few things will come out of this:

1. all fences will be 30 feet high and coated with grease, barbed wire and electrified in order to keep the morons out from restricted areas. Heck, let's toss in a few velociraptors for good measure.

2. SF automatically pay a family $2 million if a family member gets killed.

3. Laywers will have kiosks right in the main plazas of all SF parks.

4. You will have to sign a waiver when you purchase an admission ticket.

5. Park admission will rise to $100 a person to cover these new saftey measures.

Anything I missed?

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6. a Sign at the entrance that reads: Hats are no longer permited at 6Flags parks. We will still continue to sell them, but you cannot wear them. *** Edited 6/30/2008 2:35:51 PM UTC by FLYINGSCOOTER***

LostKause: Thanks for the link.

However, it merely addresses and outlines a new-found problem that cannot be solved. What should we do, lock kids up until their mid 20's? That won't fly. Also, for every fence-jumping idiot out there there is a Jeopardy! Teen Tournament qualifyer.

My 3 year old doesn't go near the stove anymore. Why? Because she burned herself when she was 2 and a half. Actions vs. consequences are learned at an early age, and continue to be learned throughout life. Roller coaster dodging should set off red flags regardless of how well or poorly developed a part of your brain is by 17.

I'm out...