Statement from Holiday World

This is sad news. Whether *fault* should be apportioned or not, it is still a tragedy for the rider and her family as well as everyone at Holiday World and SRM.

I only just found out that a friend of mine at SRM is safe, for which I'm thankful.

My thoughts go out to the bereaved and all at HW/SRM who are involved in this sad accident.

-Jim (just sad now)
*** This post was edited by Invy 6/1/2003 5:11:59 PM ***

This is just plain horrible. Especially at an event. Has anyone heard from Kara? I hope she is OK.

MrScott

That is terrible, however it happened. I wonder how long Raven will be down? I am going to be there Thursday for the first time. May God be with the family and friends of this person.

------------------
Lets go Drag racing.
*** This post was edited by CP ismyhome 6/1/2003 8:04:45 AM ***

Thank you Paula for taking the time to issue this statement.

Anything that this member of the coaster community can do to help the family of the victim and/or the park and its employees is yours anytime you need it.

------------------
Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

Lets just pray for the families and hope that are friends are O.K. This horrible blow to the coaster community will take a long time to recover from.

No one ever thought that it could happen to us. Most of us admit to leaving lapbars a little loose from time to time. I know it never crossed my mind that someone could die at an enthusiast event. Even with the loose lapbars, the seabelts on some coasters will keep us in right? I guess that was wrong in this case, wether it be rider error or some other cause, some one got hurt. :(

Again, the most important thing to do now is to pray....
------------------
***DISCLAIMER***
This post, no matter how offensive it may seem to some, was not intended to hurt anyone either physically and/or mentally.
*** This post was edited by RCmuzikGuY 6/1/2003 9:14:48 AM ***

My prayers go out to everyone involved. Until we all find out what exactly happened we should just keep our mouths shut.

------------------
Check out this awesome park!http://games.coasterbuzz.com/filedetail.aspx?GameFileID=3001

My prayers go out to the faimly and people involved.

But on another note, I'm not quite sure what to think. I would never EVER wish death on anyone, but when someone does something like leaving a lap bar loose...it's hard for me to be incredibly sympathetic. I feel for the family, but these lapbars are designed to KEEP YOU IN. That's obvious to anyone who can ride a coaster. So why you would intentionally keep your lapbar THAT high and not fear for your safety just baffles me.

I just got back. That is so sad. Thanks for clearing it Paula. My sympathies goes out to them.

------------------
-Sean Newman
*** This post was edited by SFgadvMAN 6/1/2003 1:46:18 PM ***

I am an infrequent poster (but frequent lurker) Just wanted to make a quick post here and let you know that I was at SRM 2003. I left a little early, leaving HW at precisely 7:55 pm Sat. night. You can imagine my shock when I read the Sunday morning newspaper and first heard of this tradgedy.

Anyway...I just wanted to say that this year, the ride ops on The Raven were insisiting on 2-click rides. (still more than enough room, imho for plenty of airtime) I also attended last year, and just shook my head in disbelief when I saw many of those 1-click rides.

And finally, at the group gathering/auction on Friday night, Paula Werne made a point of announcing that no one would be allowed to wear a lanyard while riding either of the coasters. I guess last year a few jokers devised a way to strap the end of their lanyard to their lapbars. (totally uncalled for and unnecessary anyway.)

My prayers and condolences to this woman's family.

Zoik

This is so sad, when my wife and I left the park at 8:15 (she wasn't feeling up to ERT) we saw all the emergency vehicles come flying into the maintenance entrance under the Raven. We were afraid of something like this when we saw the vehicles.

I, and my wife, are deeply saddened by this. We feel for both the riders' family as well as the Holiday World and Koch families.

------------------
--George H
---Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)

My prayers go out to her family and every close to her and the staff at Holiday World.

------------------
Top 5 favorite coasters I have ridden on:
1. Millennium Force
2. Magnum
3. Montu
4. Legend
5. Mr. Freeze

Thanks for informing us about this Paula. While I was hoping the statement would be over how great SRM was this weekend, I had the worst feeling something was wrong even before I checked the site this morning. Luckily there wasn't any type of shooting, which was the first thing I thought when I felt something was wrong due to a strange post on another coaster site a couple days ago. This feels incredibly surreal.

Still, this is extremely sad and my thoughts and prayers are with the woman, her family and friends, Holiday World, and anyone affected by this loss.

-Danny
------------------
Coaster Insomniacs
*** This post was edited by Koaster King 6/1/2003 3:29:19 PM ***

ThePhantomLives said:
Yeah it sucks and all, but those people...

---

You know, it's long been said that extraordinary people talk about ideas and mere ordinary people just talk about other people. Now is not the time for trite banality.

We have lost one of our own. Paula and the fine folk of HW are as much our 'family' as anyone else--perhaps among our dearest.

I may visit my local park today...but not before purchasing a black armband in remembrance of our lost one. Those who feel as I do may want to do the same.

Again, may our condolences and prayers rise above the petty and the small. Each and every one of us miss you.

-S.A.R.

------------------
The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

Im in shock, Its a shame when bad things happen to good people. This is a horrible accident that happened at a very caring park. My prayers are with the family of the girl and Holiday World.

------------------
Final Deja Vu Count for the 2002 Season: 52
Superman: Ultimate Flight Count (SFGAm) = 42
http://www.SFGAmWorld.com

---

ThePhantomLives said:
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.

---

Very well put Phantom! Happy to see you're seeing things from my POV.

I'm sorry, but the one click rule has nothing to do with it. If you went without a lapbar completely and had your seatbelt loosened to the farthest point you can't fall out. I repeat can't fall out. I rode the Raven with one click and a fully loosened seatbelt and on the 5th drop I was quickly snugged back to my seat by the belt. For this thing to happen you would have had to take off your belt. Until we get all the details you people shouldn't say that it was because of the lapbar. My sympathy goes to the family and Holiday World as well.

------------------
TTD RULES!

It's a pitty and a shame this happened but this "one click" thing to me is nuts. Doing this seems be asking for trouble if you ask. I usually have my lap bar fairly lose but I don't think I could temp fate with one of these "one click" rides, I’m in no hurry to meet my maker.

My thoughts and condolence go out to the friends and family of the deceased.

------------------
WARNING:
You are no longer who you were and tomorrow is now yesterday. In the event of an emergency, do not become alarmed. Move Quickly to the nearest exit.

*** This post was edited by Goku2216 6/1/2003 5:12:03 PM ***

I just returned from SRM. Let me tell you, having over 700 enthusiasts go from talking and having a good time, to complete silence is very eery. And then having everyone walk out of the park in silence.

When they were going to make the announcement, i originally thought they were going to say that either the Raven or Legend was down. But when they said someone got ejected, the whole mood just changed. That mood carried on into the night. Groups were forming all around Santa's Lodge discussing what happened, and what might have happened to cause this. All there are right now are assumptions. Lets not have everyone doing the finger pointing until we know the facts.

------------------
Take a Virtual Ride:
http://badnitrus.coasterbuzz.com
Mike "Viper" Semtak

I couldn't agree with you more Viper, You can't say it was the lapbar until "they" say it was the lapbar. One click or not the seatbelt came back undone.

------------------
TTD RULES!

My deepest regrets to all involved.

Viper, did the park say thatsomeone was ejected, or was that the prevailing rumor?

------------------
2002/2003
KP Team Member