Report expected today in Six Flags New England death

I've just about had it with this useless speculation. Conclusions should be drawn from facts. Facts are gleaned from investigation. How about we leave the investigating to the investigators, huh? I mean, this is getting ridiculous.

Rich Genthner / PTC99

Try this link to see local NBC coverage and comments by ACE member and Coasterbuzz member Allan Reid.

http://wwlpimg.dayport.com/htm/wwlp22player.htm?Art_ID=43731

Your probably on the right track VOLLEYGUY. Those last three camelbacks create some wicked airtime which could have partially knocked him out of position.

While Superman is the best coaster I have ever been on, I have to say that SFNE is a very poorly run park. I've never seen such inattentive, unenthusiastic ride ops. I really think they need a couple more rideops on the platforms also. While I've seen 6 ops plus the operator on the Magnum platform, I think the most I've seen on S:ROS is four (plus the operator) and that has happened only once. I am not saying this is the cause of this terrible accident, but I think there is a definite possibility that better trained ride ops may have prevented such things. They kind of make you feel like your on your own sometimes.

rentzy17, I think Magnum's return hills have some of the most violent airtime you will ever feel.

Ride of Steel has a point though, Magnum does have sides to it's cars so if the lapbar and seatbelt failed the rider wouldnt be able to slip out the side.

Curious to see what the report says.

Just heard something interesting on the news today, it seems that guy who died was turned away last year on the same ride, but then he was accepted this year...

What's the difference between the restraints on Titan at SFoT and the ones one S:ROS? I know they are different coaster manufacturers but it is the same concept.*** This post was edited by coasterguts 5/3/2004 5:34:55 PM ***

The major difference is that the S:RoS restraints are t-bars whereas the Titan restraints are U-shaped. Pretty much the same idea, though. Also, S:RoS has redundant seatbelts.

I witnessed this as I was waiting in line, supposed to be in the next set of passangers to go on the ride. It was horrifying to see and I'm not sure if I will be able to ride rollercoasters anymore.. but for some information the place that CalvinJ23 had circled on the picture is a little bit off. It was further to the right in the picture, closer to where the brakes are.

Lilspike333, will you give me some more details on the Blizzard River incident?

Also, on my visit (2002), the ride shut down because a seat belt was unlatched/latched improperly. So, I'm suspecting that the ride would shut down if the lap bar was not latched or not latched properly.

My uncle who's, ahem, husky has been kicked off coasters at Hershey Park because the lap bar won't go down. They always check to make sure so I don't see why they would let him go if size was the problem. If that's the case they need to investigate some of the workers.

Hi everyone, I just registered to give my impression on Superman: Ride Of Steel.

I have ridden this ride many times in the past year, and 4 times so far this year, the last ride being friday night before the accident saturday. I love the negative G's, and will admit that I always press up with my leg to keep the T-bar loose, and leave the seatbelt loose. I have never taken it off though, nor would I trust my life to the hydraulic T-Bar alone. That said, even with a few inches of free space, In all my attempts on the way up the lift hill to see how far I could get, I have never been close to getting out with the seatbelt on. However, it seems to me that the restraints are entirely dependant on your legs to hold you in, and as long as your legs are being held reasonably by the lap bar, you can't get out of it. Now if you picture a 230 pound man who is only 5'2", thats pretty round in the middle. Having CP, he may have lacked muscle tone in his legs as well. If that bar was limited by his stomache, and not his legs, then I would think that he could get out if the seatbelt was not fastened. I have read unconfirmed reports that he took that belt off. This guy rode a lot, so he wasn't afraid of it, and I doubt he freaked out, but I think he was like me in that he liked the negative G's, only he may have taken it too far by releasing the seatbelt.

Now by all accounts where he was ejected is just to the right of the circle in the picture CalvinJ23 posted, where the train comes into the brake run. I'm confident that the banking on that turn is strong enough to toss someone out, but only if they were not attempting to stay in the car. What I mean is that as long as you are reasonably stiff, you are not coming out of that car, even without a seatbelt, or maybe even a lapbar. For sure you could hold yourself down. I think this man either suffered a medical condition mid ride, which left him limp and at the mercy of the forces, or he really let himself go, maybe leaning out to get a rush, who knows. Either way, I dont think the equipment failed here.

State shuts down rides with T-bar safety restraints
(Monday, May 3, 2004) - In the wake of Saturday's fatal accident at Six Flags New England, the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety has suspended the permits of all amusement rides equipped with T-bar-type restraint systems similar to those on the Superman Ride of Steel roller coaster pending further investigation, technical evaluation, testing, and possible redesign.
State officials say that the action comes as a "prudent public safety measure."

The Department says that a detailed report of their investigation into Saturday's accident will be released to the public later this week.

Could you attribute where you got that from please. Not doubting it, just want to see the article.

What other rides have similar restraints?

Sorry for got to add the link! A redesign would suck!

http://members.aol.com/rides911/accidents.htm

That info is right here regarding rides with T-Bar safety restraints being closed.

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I love the negative G's, and will admit that I always press up with my leg to keep the T-bar loose, and leave the seatbelt loose.

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SFNE Fanatic: You could very well have been the next person thrown off that ride or any other one you ride. It's not a very smart thing to do (obviously). Look what happened to the woman at Holiday World a couple years back. Granted, she was standing up, but I am sure the first time she wanted more "airtime", she did exactly what you did. It's enthusiasts like you that can ruin it for everyone else. The less this is done, the less added legislation and/or safety measures have to be taken. Don't ruin it by being stupid. This is more than my 2 cents, but I think that it had to be said

And smoking Marijuana leads to shooting up Heroine.

I thought we were closing down posts based upon speculation Jeff? Just so I'm clear before I add to the conversation. Do we only close the post down if the speculation is about ADA as it might relate to this accident? It appears that speculation regarding restraints is indeed left alone. Is this the only speculation you will be allowing on this coaster message board about this coaster accident?

I'm confused about what we are and are not allowing here!

apparently, what I heard from my friend on the ride is that the restraint was undone the whole time. The woman next to him tried to hold on to him, and that he was trying to hold on to everything around him.. he wrapped himself around things trying to hold on for the entire ride but by the end he just couldn't any longer. I'm not entirely positive if this is completely true, but I am positive my friend was on the ride. I saw him right there with my own eyes as the train returned to the station with that empty seat.

so now I really want to know what happend.. I need to know if this is true or not, and how they're going to prevent it in the future*** This post was edited by left right 5/3/2004 10:16:24 PM ***