5:45 p.m., 6/13 UPDATE: A preliminary report from a source that did not wish to be identified said that the worker was a seasonal groundskeeper. The man was allegedly wearing hearing protection as required because he was using a weed trimmer. The source speculates that the ride crew began testing the ride without knowing the worker was near the course, saying that normally there are procedures that prevent operation of the lift when people are out near the course. Again, this is not from official sources.
8:21 a.m., 6/14 UPDATE: Official details and information can be found today from The Hartford Courant.
Before Markey gets any ideas, it's apparent even from the small details that the guy could have been hit by a car, truck, train or roller coaster. It had nothing to do with the ride.
This is most unfortunate. There are so many safety procedures that should have prevented this. I'm anxious to hear more about it because I would think he would hear the train coming.
------------- Jeff Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
It is a tragedy, and we all feel for the guy's family, as well as the park owners/ops/workers. They all seem like nice people, in my experiences there. Jeff, I wondered the same thing about the noise (and Markey crossed my mind too). Boulder Dash gets up some serious speed and it does have great laterals. All that movement creates a roar...not to mention the canopy of trees and the hillside where the sound just can't dissipate into thin air. So there has to be more to the story...as in what was he doing on the tracks (if he was)? It's a shame all the way around. ------------- I know you rider Gonna miss me when I'm gone
Thats what I was thinking Jephry. There has been several accidents already and the season has just begun. That really sucks I hope the familys alright.
------------- Gosh people can't you take a joke. Just laugh and get on with life.
Yes, all my prayers go out to the family of the worker, that is very unfortunate. It sounds like this could've been prevented and was in no way linked to the safety of the ride. I'd also like to hear more about it, but I have a feeling this is just another log for Markey to throw on the fire, although I don't see how he could relate this to safety.
*** This post was edited by Coasterman J on 6/13/2001. ***
So that is why coasters have those loud buzzer's when they start for the first day. Even a coaster freak might not want to go out like that, this has been on of the fatal past couple weeks in coaster history and the coasters haven't even been at falt!
My heart goes out to the families of the people killed in the recent accidents involving roller coasters. I just hope that the politicians don't use this as some issue to get publicity. It seems like they love to spin and pin the blame on something anytime a tragedy occurs. Sometimes accidents happen and it's not part of some bigger problem. First they blame music, then movies, now rollercoasters? I hope not.
So sad to hear. All my prayers go out to the family and friends. After the latest news, Roller Coasters are gonna have such a bad rep now that it may affect Park attendance! It's a shame to hear news like this, my deepest sympathies are with the family.:(
:( Was he struck by the train?:( Not to be rude, but how can you weed-wack on in the path of the train? The only thing I could think is he was trimming under the track with his upper body sticking through, thus getting hit by the train. Again this is very sad to hear.:(
