Storm collapses Kennywood's Whip - 1 fatality

A very acurate report of what went on can be found here:

http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20020601storm0601p2.asp

Also, this link has numerous photos of the destruction of the Whip:

http://www.post-gazette.com/journal/photos_bydate.asp?odate=6%2F1%2F02&Page=1

One of the people I talked to in our emergency department mentioned that the Whip is one of the only structures in Lost Kennywood that is acutally a shelter. Thus, it appeared to be a refuge from the storm for the patrons in the area. This explains the high volume of injuries.

News reports say Kennywood is closed today, and when they reopen is uncertain at this point.

Did MSNBC really have to add this in there story?

Thirty people were injured at the park in 1999 when a roller-coaster operator failed to brake as a train pulled into the loading platform and rear-ended another train. None of the injuries was serious.

I think it's disrespectful in a story like this.

-----------------
Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com

*** This post was edited by bigkirby on 6/1/2002. ***

The Paratrooper is a wheel with hanging "umbrellas" that inclines to about 60 degrees then comes back down - sort of like a predecessor to the "Enterprise" style rides if you know what those are. Not much, but was one of my favorite rides. I hope theres some way it can be repaired.

Bigkirby it wasnt just MSNBC it was mentioned on CNN, I believe the artcile is from associtated press and both ran the article.

As for this not being in news yet for those who asked its SRM weekend, the mods are prob there.

-----------------
Army Rangers lead the way

Maybe. But still....
What will happen to the Whip ride? Has Kennywood had any other fatalities?

-------------
Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com

This has been a very depressing week for theme parks. This is one ride that I would wish would stop now.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims...

No, they have everyone out, no more fatalities. Two kids had to have surgery, but they're gonna be ok. The Whip will probably be rebuilt as it was always a popular ride and is a historic landmark.

Actually, I meant have they ever had other fatalities in their history? Sorry for the confusion!
Thanks!

-------------
Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com

Oh, well yea I think when some rides burned in the 40s 50s and 60s there were some fatalities (I'm just drawing off my memories of the "Kennywood" book from my grandparent's coffee table ... ) but nothing recently. Actually, only the Thunderbolt, which was totally rider-operator error was the last problem they really had. The park IS over 100 years old - if they went that long without a fatality, THAT would be truely impresive

Yesterday was so nice, I mean me and a few friends had just gotten out of the pool and it looked liked any other storm, but after we saw the breaking news about Kennywood and seeing aerial footage of the damage, I was stunned. The trees were down near the fence where normally you can't see the Whip, now you can. Just seeing the depris around the park and the Whip building,I mean, it completly block the walkway from the Exterminator to the rest of Lost Kennywood.I feel bad who had their picnic yesterday. Since I had mine on Thurs. Kennywood suffered alot of damage and is unknown when the park will reopen. My heart goess out to the family members and relatives to the person who died.
-------------
The Jokes on You!! Ha H***

This one is a real shocker. No words can describe this tragedy. Living in Pittsburgh, this one is tough. You see all the damage not just at Kennywood, but around the area, and you have to feel for these people. One life lost is one too many, but it could have been much worse. I cannot imagine the hell that the people at my home park went through yesterday. The stories on the news of people running, crying, and parents worring about their kids were pretty graphic. This storm was a bad one as it was reported that car windows in the parking lot were shattered. However, I did hear stories of heriosim of people doing their best to pull people out of the collapse. Once again, our rescue workers put their lives on the line to help others. My deepest condolences go out to those affected by this horrible tragedy.

My friend who works at the park drove down there to see how bad things were and described things as "sickening." I can't imagine what this park looks like right now. A few pictures were sent into me and can be found at the link in my signature.
-------------
Joe Cernelli
Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
"If you want to follow me, you've got to play pinball."

Wow those pictures are amazing, looks like some were taken in mid storm. Looks like there was pure chaos everywhere.

-----------------
Top 5 Coasters 1.Deja Vu(SFGAm)2.Raging Bull(SFGAm)3.Millennium Force(CP)4.CornBall Express(IB)5.Viper(SFGAm)
CoasterWorld

I'm completely awestruck, I can't even believe it, such a classic ride, I've literally dreamed about riding it.

-----------------
Tuesday's Gone With The Wind.
Elijah Rock.
Is it written in the stars?
La Vie Boheme!!!

Thanks for showing us those pictures. I, like the rest of you, feel very bad for the family of Stephanie Wilkerson and everyone else who was injured at this park (and even those not in the park, but just plain hurt by this storm). I also feel bad for Kennywood, having to close the park for a few days and having nationwide bad publicity as well as a recovery from storm damage.

-----------------
Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com

Those pictures make me want to cry. It was a horrific site to see. I hope the can save the whip and get the park cleaned up. From the way it looks the park may reopen in a few days. If they work hard on cleaning up today you can see it reopen as soon as tomorrow.

-----------------
Chris Knight
Man, did you see all those Sea Gulls at CP?
That's not roughness that intensity

Right now, by looking at the pictures by CowboyJoe, as he is called on the site. Is just amazing, I mean, just by looking at the chaos and destruction of the storm is like WOW.
-------------
The Jokes on You!! Ha H***

I think that what affects me (and probably lots of other people) the most is that we always think of amusement parks as places to have fun and enjoy a great day...then something as terrible as this happens. Seeing the destruction, chaos, and terror going in a place normally associated with happiness and good times really hurts right in the heart.

Jim

The last fatality at the park, if my memory serves me right, was in 1968. A young man foolishy stood up on the just recently opened Thunderbolt just as it was decending into the helix.

The events of May 31,2002 are tragic. It could have been a lot worse.We can be thankful that it wasn't.(I went to elementary school in Trafford. I know what school picnic days are like.) Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who was involved.

As far as when Kennywood will reopen to the public, my guess is, as soon as possible. The debris will be cleaned up , the rides inspected for damage and then put back into operation. I would hazard to say by next weekend at the latest. The area around the Whip will more than likely be partitioned off, as the authorities and the insurance companies will send in investigators.

i hope this accidents at the park business is going to stop soon...