Witnesses describe collision on Superman

something must have been wrong with the programing. if its anything like the other SROS, the the train has to be braked there whether or not the station is clear. I rode SROS at SFDL and there was only one train operating, but it still stopped outside the station (like most coasters). either the magnets didn't work or they were in the wrong position. still, I can't understand why the trains would be smoking. maybe a kick up of dust or something, but smoke? anyway, they should have been asking the park what was wrong with the coaster, not the gp. what the hell does the gp know about a coaster's inner workings? for that matter, what does an enthusiast know about a coaster's inner workings? crowd reaction is one thing, asking a witness what was wrong is another. and what was with that girl on the ferris wheel? I know a lot of people that won't ride hypers. its not because they're unsafe, its 'cause they don't like the drop.

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it's a mexican pirate!~Track 15 Blink 182 Take Off Your Pants and Jacket

The only way I see something like that "smoking" is that if the impact was fast and hard enough to cause the metal of both trains to rub against each other...but I don't see how a sudden impact could have cause that.

It just doesn't make sense...none of it.

Ha The brakes failing and the sound of an explosion with it smoking reminds me of RCT.

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Don't Fight it, Ride it, RAGING BULL!

That would be scary to experience that.

Why would they be bleeding from their heads??? What hit them like that??? debris?

The smoke was probably dust from the broken fiberglass. The bleeding was probably from getting thrown forward into the nearest solid object (front of the car etc.)

I wonder is they'll decide to install horse collars after this?

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Yeeee Haaawwww!

"The operator probably just missed the timing"

Unless the ride op put the ride in Manual Mode, IMPOSSIBLE.

Intamin's new rides are so technologically advanced that a computer basically runs the ride, the op just pushes the button to get it out of the station.

There is a third possibility. There could have been a short circuit in the wires that retract the brakes.

maybe the eyewitnesses who heard explosions and smoking and all that were probably on a rct binge the night before and just got confused because they witnessed a "station brakes failure". j/k

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Vortex rules!!!! (still) *** This post was edited by bigjas on 8/9/2001. ***

...and maybe the hydraulic retractables that open up ran out of hydraulic fluid the very moment that they opened...causing them to stay open...I have no idea if this is possible (almost certain it's not) but at 2 in the morning, the brain doesn't function normally. :)

thanks supermandl for the extra info. it's just more proof that six flags cares more about their own*****than the safety and enjoyment of their patrons.

Hummm, having operated a rollercoaster, I can tell you this: Its IRRESPONSIBLE for the park to run a coaster in manual ( or maintenance mode ). In auto mode, the computer whould stop the train if the train is too close. Problems with the brakes? Ride shut down. Computers discordance ( when a computer says something and the other another thing )? Well, logically, the ride power source set up, shutting the ride down. So, the accident could have happened because of a combinaison of factors.

Also, looking at the S:ROS, Intamin did a mistake: you got the prestation set of brakes to stop the trains! While, theorically, there should be another brake zone in between.

Sorry mongoose but that's impossible. That ride is handled by the computer for stoping the ride, Ride Ops only can dispatch or E-stop the train if there's a problem leaving the station but after the lift hill it's all computers.

BTW- to all of the people who have stated that there have NOT been many accidents or that there ARE NO DEATHS at parks, please visit this site:

http://members.aol.com/rides911/accidents.htm

This person has been compilling data for over 5 years and provides mutilple sources.

*-BB-*

there were 5 deaths in the month of June 2001!

*** This post was edited by BB on 8/10/2001. ***

5 Deaths in June? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. There was one death at Lightwater Valley in the UK when the brakes failed on a Reverchon spinning mouse.

Two other deaths occurred on or near coasters that month, but were not caused by and kind of mechanical failure of the ride. One was an aneurysm (a pre-existing condition), the other a work safety violation.

People die every day in car accidents despite heavy federal regulation. I'm still waiting for someone to enlighten me on how anything the feds do would make rides safer than they already are under most state programs. I don't think anyone has been able to make a case because THERE ISN'T ONE.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"From the global village... in the age of communication!"

There were FIVE deaths in the month of June, go to the web site I have listed...

I didnt state the Feds should do anything about it Jeff... just pointing out that there are WAY more injuries and deaths then people are aware of.. and ANY DEATH on a ride is serious.. no MATTER what, so since the brakes failed, its HER fault she was killed by massive head trauma?

Or the landscaper doing HIS JOB gets smooshed? That is HIS problem? Please... there is a point here... : there is a LOT of trouble with the Leisure Industry!

And I disagree about the pre exisiting condition in the death of the Goliath rider... She exhibited NO SIGNS of having a brain problem, and it is VERY rare for such a young woman to have this type of brain bleed!, its just that a CORONER couldnt hang his reputation on the line by saying it was the forces from the ride...

So no, I am not " Wrong, Wrong, Wrong" you HAVE to admitt ANY DEATH is bad..


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http://members.aol.com/rides911/accidents.htm

I would've rather won Powerball then be your 1 out of 22,000,000!! *** This post was edited by BB on 8/10/2001. ***

You're confusing the issue. You can count five if you add a bungee cord accident, which has nothing to do with amusement parks (particularly given that it was not a US park) and an accident where a worker was crushed by a fair ride (another issue of workplace safety, just as the one at Lake Compounce).

It is the medical opinion of doctors that an aneurysm can burst due to any kind of stressful activity including sneezing and playing the drums (just ask the drummer from R.E.M.). They don't just spontaneously develop and there are often no symptoms indicating that the problem exists. You want to blame something like that on a roller coaster? That's completely illogical. A kid from my high school dropped dead playing basketball about ten years ago from the very same thing, and with no warning. Shall we eliminate high school basketball or require that it be regulated?

So that gets us back to one death in Lightwater that was actually caused by the ride during the month of June.

And don't twist the point around by introducing emotional issues into the argument. I certainly don't want anyone to die, and it's sad when it does happen. However, let's not dodge the issue. Somebody show me how increased regulation is going to save anyone.

Your signature makes my point. 1 in 22 million. If those kinds of odds require regulation, I'm moving to Idaho and joining the militia there. You'll never win the lottery or get killed on a ride. I don't need you or the government to protect me, particularly at my expense as a taxpayer.

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Jeff (who finds it creepy that for once he agrees with the Republicans)
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"From the global village... in the age of communication!"

Back to the SROS incident, the reason that people in the rear train had bleeding head injuries is because their train came to a sudden stop, their heads flew forward, and nailed the front of the train. And if you've ever been on an Intamin Giga/Hypercoaster with those trains, you would know how easy it is to cut yourself on those things.

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Steuks!!

Jeff, You are too sensitive about the proposed regualtions, and once again I HAVE NEVER SAID THEY NEED TO BE REGULATED.. why cant you SEE THAT?? sheesh!!!
I have said I think the parks can manage their own issues and it would be better if they do that SOON to avoid the possibility of the Feds stepping in..

So an accident that is from a work related incident doesnt count as a death?

A death is a death is a death!


An so it is foriegn it doesnt count? Most of the rides are manufactured in Europe anyways...

Dont blame me for the numbers! And dont attack me again by saying how I think federal regulation would help.. because I havent said that!

personaly I think there is TOO much regualtion by the federal government in too many areas.. I do not want to live in a society that has to be regulated.. Markey is making a name for himself.. and it is what MANY poiticians do .. they step into a topic for the attention and publicity..see for a politician there is NO such thing as BAD publicity .. so he is getting his name out there..getting noticed.. its what they all do.. it just happens that he has picked up on THIS subject to use as his platform..

As I said in another post, the leisure industry could turn this all around by comming out with a media blitz on the "improved safety" goals of their parks, they could be forthcomming with information in a manner that makes them seem as if they are more caring, there is SO much they could do to stear Markey's supporters another way.. A good defense is a strong OFFENSE!

So as much as I wont ride again, I am even saying things on how a park could improve it's image and help fight of Markey.. I cant be ALL that bad just because I do believe that the dangers are more previlant then people think and because I am a voice of a victim and not a coasterhead...

I do want you to ride your coasters .. I just want the parks safer.. What is so wrong with that?

(notice I said PARKS.. the reason for accidents is not JUST the ride.. its in many factors!)

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http://members.aol.com/rides911/accidents.htm

I would've rather won Powerball then be your 1 out of 22,000,000!! *** This post was edited by BB on 8/10/2001. ***