SFMM employee struck and killed by coaster today

Ive submitted this to news also. Just got this story about SFMM employee being struck and killed by Scream rollercoaster.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/040904_nw_theme_park_employee.html

My thoughts and prayers are with the man's family.

Here is another case though of someone entering a restricted area.

Well, they're restricted areas for a reason...

May she rest in peace. My prayers are with her family and the rest of the Magic Mountain staff for their loss. *** Edited 4/10/2004 8:08:32 PM UTC by bigkirby***

That article contradicts itself. Aside from that, does anyone have any more details on how exactly he managed to get in front of that moving train? Was it to look for some hat or something?

I'm confused as to how they could have actually been struck unless they were standing on the track or part of the track...it's not like it is an inverted track. Is there usually a need to be that close to B&M track in the morning? How do you not hear a B&M train rumbling through the track if you are that close to it?

You'd be surprised.

Same thing happened at SFoG last year. A man was in a restricted area in Batman: The Ride, during its operation, and was struck and killed. A girl in the front seat was also injured.

This sounds like another case of people not knowing or following low zone rules and lock out procedures.

Man...I don't get it...one would have to be physically on the track of Scream to be hit? I just don't get it.

My sympathy goes out to the family.

Or at the very least right next to the track. I would think you would hear it running too. It is tragic for something like this that is very preventable to happen.

Also, to be a little nit-picky, the article states, "Magic Mountain has 18 other roller coasters on its 260-acre playground of rides and attractions."

.. you'd be surprised just how many people "zone out" the sounds around them when they work in a park.

It's quite common actually.

Um, even though "zoning out" should occur as you say, there is no excuse for not hearing the near-deafening sound a B&M produces when you are in its perimeter. To say that she somehow did not hear it is ludicrous.

In addition, Scream!'s area is channeled off into a secluded and more quiet area of the park. The only noises you hear in that area are the occasional sounds produced by Superman The Escape - but other than that, Scream! is the only thing around in that area that produces an incredibly loud sound.

so sad

It happened to be a 21 year old woman employee, not a male one. And the report says that she was actually on the track and employees that work the park on another message board said it was in the helix area where she was hit - and it doesn't seem as if it were too hard to do so on her part - look at how low the helix gets to the ground (especially the portion of it right when the drop into it ends).

http://www.twistedrails.com/sfmm2k3/images/0308/0308-05.jpg

If I remember correctly, there was a similar incident at another Six Flags park last year (correct me if I'm mistaken). Seems as if though Six Flags is having some difficulty with their lockout/tag out procedures. If the employee was able to access the area, then the ride should have been locked out, rendering it inoperable, and this tragedy would never have happened.

It's very sad to hear someone died at another park. My condolences to the friends and family.

The Six Flags corporation should be held liable for these kind of incidents. I understand that it was through the employees own actions, but after a trend of these happenings, I think it is time for SF to do something. My thoughts are with the family.

You can't monitor every employee. These people are old enough to know better.

I don't think there's any sort of "alarming trend" that's been happening. It happens once in awhile. It's not a good thing, and it should be preventable, but accidents do happen. Let's wait until we hear more details before we pass judgement and assign blame.

-Nate