Statement from Holiday World

It is with great sorrow that we inform you there was a fatality at Holiday World on Saturday, May 31. A female guest visiting from the East Coast was involved in an accident at The Raven roller coaster shortly before the park closed to the public for the evening. She was not in her seat when the train returned to the station. A doctor who was a guest at the park, plus the parks’ EMTs were on the scene within minutes and performed CPR and other emergency procedures until an ambulance arrived. The woman, whose name has not been released, was transported to the local hospital, where the coroner pronounced her dead. The Koch family and everyone at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari are devastated by this tragedy. Our prayers go out to the family. The park family will be in mourning on Sunday, June 1, and Holiday World & Splashin' Safari will be closed to the public on that day. A private counseling session will be available to all employees at the park at 1:00 pm Sunday. An investigation is underway. This message will be updated as more information becomes available. Sincerely,The Koch Family

It's really hard to understand all of this right now... just as Holiday World is a family, so are enthusiasts. It's just so numbing to think that one of our own is gone. I have the utmost sympath for all the families of those involved. I only hope this brings us all closer in time.

This condolence, and all the other steps Holiday World has taken to go out of the way for enthusiasts, must truly be commended, as it is the sign of a truly remarkable place with compasionate people.
------------------
Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Find Me, Win a prize!)
*** This post was edited by Zero-G 6/1/2003 12:42:39 AM ***

I had a friend at this event and I even tried to find a way to get there. I just can't absorb what happened, it's all so surreal. I send my prayers out to the park and to the families, and also all those that knew the enthusiasts because I'm sure they've talked to or posted at these very boards. This truly is terrible news and I'm still stunned that so many enthusiasts were actually there, and it wasn't just a regular day at the park.

Very sad moment. My prayers are with the family, and friends of the deceased woman. I also feel bad for the people on that train that had to witness this.

Holiday World is going through what SFGAm had to endure by the death of an 11 year old girl about a month ago.

Do the wooden coasters at HW have seatbelts? Do they allow the lap bars to be real loose? To everyone that has been affected by this, please be strong.

------------------
Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"
*** This post was edited by Chitown 6/1/2003 2:10:35 AM ***

Very sad indeed. I'm not sure about the seatbelt thing, but when I was there they did allow the lapbar to be fairly loose. I truly hope this does not bring about a change in policy, it could ruin the enjoyment of the coasters. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

------------------
If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

Yeah it sucks and all, but those people NEED TO LEARN TO STOP. These 1 click rides are BS, it was only a matter of time. I kinda expected this to happen, its 1 reason why I purposely scheduled my trip to stay away from SRM. Well you can kiss those lenient ride ops good by, I have a feeling that Holiday WOrld is going to be stricter now. Leave it to us enthusiasts "who know everying and never get injured" so take things too far. I enjoy leaving my bar up a few clicks as much as the next guy, but most people at SRM go for the specific purpose of 1 click rides... They're absolutely un needed and unbuckelling your belt is even worse. Im suprised it's taken this long, but now that it's happened, maybe it'll serve as example as to why certain parks think that enthusiasts with thier lap bars up is unexceptable... It's a horrible way to learn a lesson, I always hate to see things like this happen, especially to people who's lives revolve around coasters. My condolances to her family and the park
*** This post was edited by ThePhantomLives 6/1/2003 12:57:25 AM ***

A few hours ago my friend that was at SRM called me and told me someone got ejected from their seat. I was completely stunned. No one ever thought this would happen.

------------------
#1 Steel-Nitro
#1 Wood-Shivering Timbers
*** This post was edited by Rockrc480 6/1/2003 1:02:56 AM ***

Yeesh, guys. Chill out.

Paula said this happened before the park had closed to the public. That means it could've been *anybody*. Don't jump to conclusions, because it makes you look just as ridiculous as those people who assume that coasters are unsafe because riders do stupid things. The pendulum swings both ways.

I'm really sorry that Paula and everyone at Holiday World has to deal with such a tragedy, and during the weekend of Stark Raven Mad, of all times. While I've never been there, Paula's presence here speaks volumes of their philosophy, and it's truly amazing.

Above all else, I hope *that* doesn't change. That Paula took the time to fill *us* is incredible, and it's that type of amazing gesture that seems to make Holiday World such a nice place to visit; not Raven or Legend.

Thank you, Paula, for being among the first to share this horrible news. I'm sorry it had to happen.

------------------
--Maddie--

This topic is closed. You may not reply.
This topic was closed before you could reply.
Foiled again.

I couldn't agree more with you. We all are hurt by tonight.

------------------
Do you bleed Blue?

Did the person stand up??? I sure hope it wasn't just because of a loose lapbar!

Weird how I was just there.....terrible news for Holiday World.
------------------
CCI Lives On!
-Patrick

Pink Floyd Fanatic, airtime happens when a train changes direction (going up to down) while your body continues to go in a straight line (up/forward) if nothing stops your body from doing this (ie a restraint) you may (if the force is long enough which it usually is on most coasters) be expelled from the ride vehicle.

My deapest appolgy to HW, and especially the deceased and her family. Hopefully all of you learn a lesson from this, restraints work use them.

PS-to all of you who believe that it could have been something else, think about it PTC trains have been around for how long? And everyone's favorite statistic, most amusement park injuries are due to rider error.

However, no one deserves to die on a roller coaster and I once again express my deapest remorce.

------------------
Summer 03-CP, HP, Canobie, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.

If there was ever a time for everyone to shut up with comments and just to reflect on what has happened, ... this would be it. Please do not speculate. You weren't there. I wasn't there. Please do not start throwing around accusations like you have done within 30 minutes of the announcement. Have some consideration for the deceased, the deceased's family, the Koch Family and Holiday World. It was indeed a tradgedy that has taken us all by surprise, but please keep your comments to yourself. Thank you for understanding the severity of the situation.

My thoughts and prayers are with the deceased's family.
------------------
"Sit down, enjoy much airtime and put your feet IN the fire!"
*** This post was edited by Scorcherboy 6/1/2003 1:41:47 AM ***

---

Scorcherboy said:

My thoughts and prayers are with the deceased's family.
------------------

---

As they should be... well said ScorcherBoy. You should be ashamed if your thoughts are about anything other than the woman's family and friends, or the staff at Holiday World right now. You owe it to them as enthusiasts and human beings to just quiet your curiosity and reflect on this event.

------------------
Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Find Me, Win a prize!)

I just found a news article:

http://www.myinky.com/ecp/local_news/article/0,1626,ECP_745_2003641,00.html

The article mentions one person being injure in addition to the fatality.

My condolances go out to the woman's family and the park....it feels like everyone who visits Holiday World is part of the Koch family.

-seth

*** This post was edited by ucdaap42 6/1/2003 2:01:47 AM ***

My thoughts and prayers go out for the victims' families, the Holiday World family, and the enthusiast community. May God bless those involved and comfort them.

-Jim

I like what you said Scorcher, assume nothing. Let this tradegy never happen again.

------------------
A true enthusiast goes on the kiddie coasters.

Let it never happen again by using comon sense. Honestly, it sounds like a member of the GP did it, it's hard to believe that people stoop to the level of those "1 click rides", and hopefully we'll all re-think this 1 click thing a bit more.

http://www.themeparkreview.com/srm2002/hw40.jpg

Jeez, I wonder how that causes people to fall out? I'm not being insensitive, Im very saddened that it happened and I hoped this day would never come. But now that it's here, we all need to take a step back and realize that restraints are there for a reason.

Sad news. I agree with lots of points here. It annoys me when public take liberties and are ridiculed by enthusiasts when they fall out of coasters, yet many enthusiasts do 1-click riding thinking they're in some way imune to similar accidents.

I'm not saying this is what happened, not at all, but it has put me off going on some trips, like the ECC Oakwood trip, as people seem to be quite reckless in this respect.

I'm not concluding that the person killed was taking liberties, by the way, just me talking generally about one-click riding.

It sucks when someone has to die when they are trying to have a good time.

My thoughts and prayers go to the woman's family and friends.

------------------
Jab uf mo yo ha an ams isid da vee eh col ah al ti