Falling from the Mine Ride?

Looking in the Roller Coaster Rollback today, it said that 21 years ago, a 5 year old fell 30 feet from the Mine Ride, fracturing his skull. Whoa! I definately never heard that one before. Can someone give me a little more information on this? Was he alright?

Can a 5 year old meet the height requirment? Was there a height requirement back then?

I would think so. I rode Magnum when I was 6 and that was the year it opened.

Yup. A 5 year-old boy close to age 6 probably could.

CBaby was 46" without shoes at that age.

-'Playa *** Edited 5/24/2005 1:46:29 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

NOTE: Severe fecal impaction may render the above words highly debatable.

Mine Ride had no height requirement if you rode with someone taller than 48". They did have a sign that said "No Hand Held Infants Please", but anyone under 48" could ride with an adult.

I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks, than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

About the only thing that I can add is the accident wasn't fatal despite the 30' fall. I don't know if there were lingering effects.

I recall also hearing some speculation that the kid was, in fact, pushed. But that was only speculation. What I do know is that the most immediate effect was the implementation of a 48" minimum height requirement, in place of the 48" or accompanied requirement.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

My first roller coaster was the Yankee Cannonball @ Canobie when I was 3 years old, and from what Im told my mother kept me in the train more then the lap bar.

The next year I couldnt ride it because they implemented a height requirement.

2022 Trips: WDW, Sea World San Diego & Orlando, CP, KI, BGW, Bay Beach, Canobie Lake, Universal Orlando

I can see it happening. Those fixed position Arrow lapbars leave a LOT of room for any small child/person to wiggle out or whatever. I'm surprised that the old Arrows haven't been given individual restraints.

Real Cbuzz quote of the day - "The classes i take in collage are so mor adcanced then u could imagen. Dont talk about my emglihs" - Adamforce

In fact, the father the kid was with did not even say anything about losing the kid at first. It eventually went to court, naming the park and Arrow in the suit. Arrow settled, the park went to court and won. Indeed, he was apparently pushed.

I doubt you'd find a jury that sympathetic these days.

Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog