Derrick Whitsett said:
I don't know if this is true or not, the thunderbolt had that partner rule because a boy was riding by himself before and when they went into the helix, he was thrown off and killed. I read it on the kennywood blvd website if you wanted to go and see.
It is true that a boy died from being thrown from the thuderbolt when it opened in 1968, but the rule of having a partner was in affect before the accident. My grandfather helped build and run the Thunderbolt and he claims that the kid was standing up while the coaster went around the second helix where a small "bump" in the track was located. Apart from it creating a rough ride, the accident was a factor in the decision to remove the "bump".
*** This post was edited by Jagged 5/20/2003 10:39:26 AM ***
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