Fatal Accident: Man falls off S:RoS (SFNE)

A 55-year-old man has died shortly after he fell off Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England today. Full article available at MassLive.

Another fatal accident for my favorite company. What the hell is going on? I know it's bad to theorize, but I wonder if this is the case of someone trying to defeat safety devices (taking off seatbelt, putting hands under lapbar for more room). As with the Hydro accident, how do you fall out of a ride with a seatbelt and a (hopefully) tight lapbar?

Prayers to the family...

Has 2004 been excecptionally bad when it comes to injuries/ fatalities, or is just me?

What is going on with all the deaths this year?

My prayers go out to that mans family.

Honestly, the crew had been stapling this year, so I doubt that was the problem.

I'm with you Sparky, what is up with all the fatel accidents this year?

Well, time will tell what happened as they further investigate this incident. Obviously, no details are immediately available as it just happened.

Soon, witnesses will be interviewed, the mechanics will inspect, and we'll find out.

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I just hope that this isn't a mechanical failure (ie: faulty seatbelt or lap-bar) so as much as rider error (giving himself oodles of space between the lapbar or taking off the belt), if only because it's going to hurt the rest of the amusement industry (especially Intamin rides & Six Flags procedures).

This is terrible news. I hope that Intamin is taking a serious look at their restraint system. They have the worst safety record of any restraint I can recall. Darian Lake- Superman, Knotts Berry Farm- Plunge, and Oakwood – Hydro have all had accidents related to the Intaman restraint. Add that to the accident years ago at Paramount – Giant Drop, and I have to wonder how they can even still be in business. I don’t understand how they can pass the buck, claiming operator error / large guest when these accidents continue to happen. At some point they should have to claim responsibility and design changes should be made. I’m not talking about just adding seatbelts either, but a serious redesign, no matter how costly. These Intamin accidents should have stopped with the first one.

(wasn’t Flight Commander an Intamin ride also?)

Ok-enough editing- sorry lol

*** Edited 5/1/2004 10:33:47 PM UTC by Rihard*** *** Edited 5/1/2004 10:34:48 PM UTC by Rihard*** *** Edited 5/1/2004 10:35:36 PM UTC by Rihard***

Flight Commander and Sky Pilot at PKD sure were Intamin rides.

So that's two fatalities regarding Intamin products in '04. And we've just hit May!

Horrible news.

This is going to turn out to be eithier a mechanical error, or that of the Ride Op for not properly checking the restraint.

I rode SROS a few times this year, and each ride I was stapled in.

I really wish there was more info on exactly where he was ejected from the ride, what seat he was in, etc...

I think we'll be seeing other Intamin rides with these same restraints closed down shortly until this investigation is over, or changes are made.

*** Edited 5/1/2004 10:49:42 PM UTC by CalvinJ23***

I know its tempting to speculate but can we wait until more information is presented before anyone jumps to any conclusions? I'm not saying that's happening now...but I've seen how these topics progress and get out of hand.

I agree 100% Moosh.

This is so sad. My prayers go out to his family. :-(

-Tina

I didnt mean to speculate. Its just that if you've ridden it this season like I have you'd see just how good the ride op's checked restraints.

Hopefully more info. will be released shortly so we'll all have a better idea of what exactly happened.

My prayers go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. Such a terrible tragedy, although I seriously doubt a 55 year old man was trying to get more airtime on Superman. Let's be realistic here.

Im sorry, The incident rate with this restraint is now about a thousand percent higher than with any other restraint out there right now.

What the answer is, I don't know but this is only about 2-3 weeks from that last one and only a year since perelous plunge and tthree since the other S:ROS's.

55yr old men arn't known for taking chances. Not saying he didn't do something but in the back of my mind it all comes down to something wrong with the restraint itself. Maybe releasing when the trains twisting or something, Who Knows? If the restraints are hydrolic locked is the fluid checked? A deep inspection and testing process needs to be undertaken IMHO.

Chuck, who says with those type of forces there is not room for error.

Again, I wasn't pointing any fingers so there's no need to apologize. I'm not trying to be a mod or curtail free speach. I'm just asking that we wait until we know more.

My prayers to the family.

'Moosh is right... let's just hold off until we have more info.