Weight may have been a factor in Perilous Plunge death

I don't see how you can fall out of a seat belt,  if she was overweight you would think that the seat belt would be really tight on her.
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STAND BACK, THERES A HURRICANE COMING THROUGH!
My Top 5 Coasters:
1. Raging Bull 2.Millenium Force 3.V2 (SFGAm) 4.Viper (SFGAm) 5.Cornball Express/Raptor *** This post was edited by CoasterDude316 on 9/26/2001. ***

Lance Baker -

A very large man (300 lb.+) was ejected from the Superman roller coaster. From what I understand, his lap bar popped open when the train hit the brakes before the station. I believe it happened early in the first year of operation. The lawsuit continues to this day, I think...

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So many coasters - so little time.

Which Superman?

The people who said that the ride ops were slacking off was a relative to the lady who died. I don't beleive what they say.
Jack Falfas has said that he thinks the ride ops did it right, and he seems a lot more reliable than family members looking to get cash out of Knotts.

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Knotts Halloween Haunt!!
29 years and still screaming.

SFDL superman ( I mean there are only like 7 right :))

 

I think that wieght/size restriction I why the belts are there in the first place. When the one guy fell out and it was just due to not having a seatbelt, then did they make them so tiny? If they gut did fall out due to excessive weight, the eyes way to deal with it is not have a scale in front of ride entrances but to make a size belt that would regulate what size people who could fit in safely. This would all have to do with rider proportion which I think if it was the case was a smart move by Intamin. which may have not worked out) 

I weigh around 240 pounds right now and fit in no problem while riding safely many a time this year. The belt rests nicely on by thighs with about 3 or 4 inches of slack.

AS silly as it may sound, having the belt farther up on the stomach may be unsafe. If you try to stand up or get out with the belt while it is on the lap itself, you would immediately hit the belt and not be given a chance to stand (unless of course you have your belt loose). If the belt started out on the stomach and you tried to stand up or get our, that gives you maybe a foot for the belt to slide down before it hits your thighs or the lap. By the time the belt comes in contact with the lap in this position, you mat already be about a foot out of that seat making it much easier to scooch back and slide out.

If this was the case with this lady, whether she stood up intently or not I think there would be a simple remedy. The easiest is to make it a requirement that the belt must rest on the lap and not the around stomach. This may create problems though since I have seen people fit (mostly women) with the belt just around there stomach. I would not want to be the one to tell them that they have to get off because they are too round. Going a step further I thing retractable belts are a good idea. This way the belts maybe could be moved up so they are guaranteed to fit the belt on their lap, while it would secure snugly.

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Save Cheese on a stick!

Has anyone heard of any eye witness accounts? There has to have been someone either on the ride with her, or watching from the ground that could give more insight into what happened.

I realize that this ride is not even close to being similar to PP, but before boarding the boats on Dollywood's Mountain Slidewinder, riders are weighed as a group. Sorry, but I do not know if it's to even out the weights in the two boats as they race down the toboggan, or to not exceed some weight restriction. But you are weighed before boarding the ride.

At SFNE I was in line for the Cyclone when I noticed an extremely large young man forcefully wedging himself into a seat. The seat was narrower than he was by a good ten inches, but he somehow managed to squeeze himself in sideways. He couldn't get the belt closed however. Then the attandent came along and apparently using every bit of strength he had, pulled hard and got the belt fastened. Flesh bulged out on either side of belt in what looked like an uncomfortable, if not actually painful way. As for the lapbar--forget it.

CoasterFan,

You would believe Jack Falfas over the family members looking to get cash out of Knott's?  Well if the family members want $10 million, then Jack wants to KEEP $10.  Money plays a role on both sides.  However... 

I have a pretty good handle on Cedar Fair and my guess is that they want to know exactly what happened--the facts.  If the facts support the family, I am sure Cedar Fair will try to reach a FAIR settlement.

If the facts support the park, I am sure Cedar Fair will offer sincere condolences and protect their reputation at the same time.