2 Theme Park Accidents (Monday 7th July 2014)

[downunder196]

Today (yesterday US time) has been a pretty horrific day in the industry:

The first accident was an 18 year old dying on Inferno at Terra Mítica which is an Intamin Zacspin. Reports say that he flew out of the ride after 'failing harness protection'.

Full Article

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The second accident happened on Ninja in Six Flags Magic Mountain where reports say a tree branch fell across the track and the train derailed. Apparently everyone is conscious and alert with only 4 people injured but everyone is still stuck in the train.

Full Article

The Ninja news is especially sad for me as I'm heading out to the park around New Years. It is a great ride and I really hope this isn't the end of it. There's only a few of these roller coasters left in the world and it would be a shame to see it go.

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For those who don't want to open the links:

Inferno Article (google translated):

A 18 year old has died on Monday at five o'clock in the afternoon at the amusement park Terra Mitica, Benidorm, to fly out of attraction 'Inferno', after failing harness protection and the victim sank to vacuum.

As confirmed by the Security council ELMUNDO.es Benidorm, José Marcet, the now deceased is a 18 year old, of Icelandic origin, who was on holiday with her parents and a friend. They were staying in Torrevieja and had decided to spend a day at the amusement park in Benidorm.

Apparently, the young man has been thrown of Attraction "Inferno" and has precipitated to the ground, suffering multiple fractures and serious injuries.

The roller coaster in which is registered the event is included in the Rome area, was opened in 2007 and provides up to 360 degrees turns. It speeds up to 60 miles per hour are reached.

Although until the scene has shifted a unit of Urgent Medical Assistance Service (SAMU), although the doctors have been unable to save the life of the young.

The Scientific Police have opened an investigation to determine what went wrong and the police proceeded to seal the attraction.

Meanwhile, the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV) reported that the trial court number 2 in Benidorm has opened a cause for the death of this person. Judge expected in the coming days the police report after which decide on the measures it deems necessary to find out what happened.

More recently...

The address of the park Terra Mitica has released a statement stressing that "Inferno attraction has officially certified by a competent external company safety of attractions that conducts periodic reviews of the same-that guarantees the optimal Attraction working with the highest level of security. "And that "the maintenance personnel reviews daily amusement park proper operation of the attraction."

It also explains that all these reviews "are recorded in the internal documentation of the company which has been given to the judicial police."

For now, the causes of the accident are unknown. From the Department of Terra Mitica whole family support is passed.

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Ninja Article (still waiting for updates)

Four people received minor injuries on a Six Flags Magic Mountain ride and up to 30 more individuals were stuck off the ground, fire officials said Monday evening.

The situation was caused by a tree branch that fell on the track of the roller coaster and obstructed the train, according to Magic Mountain spokeswoman Sue Carpenter.Los Angeles County Fire Department first responders were called to the scene just before 6 p.m., according to a supervisor with the department.

Four patients received minor injuries on the Ninja ride at the Santa Clarita amusement park, fire Supervisor Ed Pittman said.

“The 25 guests on the train were all alert and corresponding with park personnel during the evacuation process,” Carpenter said.Twenty to 30 people were stuck on the ride about 20 feet off the ground, Pittman said.

Multiple cars holding riders appeared to be stuck at an angle in an area where the tracks pass under trees, aerial video from the scene showed.

Firefighters appeared to cutting at or struggling with foliage near the large white pillars that support the ride.

“Shoulder harnesses secure you in place but don’t expect to just sit in one place—you’re going to be swinging all over, a full 90 degrees each way,” the site’s description reads.The ride is described as a “stealth assassin” and “suspended swinging roller coaster” on the Six Flags website.

“Shoulder harnesses secure you in place but don’t expect to just sit in one place—you’re going to be swinging all over, a full 90 degrees each way,” the site’s description reads.

Photos from Ninja (literally FROM Ninja)

Ninja Live Stream

Edited July 8, 2014 by downunder196

[lolman123]

Thats horrible to hear.

[downunder196]

The last person has just left the train.

[downunder196]

So Ninja was literally a tree obstructing the track. There was nothing wrong with the coaster itself so it should be open soon. Everyone was safely evacuated and 2 people were sent to hospital.

[rappa]

I would say that's end for train 3 of Ninja.

Any of the bogies that hit the tree are likely scrap now and they'd have to make new ones made so I'm guessing this will now be the spares train.

[Brad2912]

So the train didn't derail, was just obstructed?

[downunder196]

The 3rd car derailed kinda

[rappa]

Looks like the lead wheelset was smashed off the track by the tree leaving it hanging and subsequent wheelsets were damaged contacting the tree until it lost momentum.

[Brad2912]

I guess it's extremely lucky that the entire train wasn't ripped from the tracks.

[downunder196]

What it does show though it how safe the ride really is. For a car to derail and not fall to ground while no harnesses fail is amazing, especially for a ride of its age. So glad no one was seriously injured and I hope to see it up and running soon. I also hope to see Green Lantern reopen soon too after the tragedy on Inferno.

[joz]

SFMM's Green Lantern I assume?

[Gazza]

See, turns out building Scream on a treeless car park was a good idea all along.

Yes SFMMs Green Lantern has been shut Joz.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Gazza

[downunder196]

SFMM's Green Lantern I assume?

Yeah, because Inferno was a harness issue on a Zacspin so they'll wait till investigations are over to clear the ride for operation.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

So SFMM is two coasters down for the moment... Cedar Point wins!

I don't imagine Ninja will reopen too soon - although it wasn't any fault of the ride to cause it to close, it's had a log weighing several hundred kilos fall or lean against it. They'll need structural engineers to survey that section to make sure the supports and the track haven't shifted or kinked or buckled.

Ninja runs a pretty decent capacity. I'd hate to see them lose a train to this. It's what you'd expect from SFMM, but I hope they do invest in having the bogeys replaced, and the train reinstated.

it could have been much worse.

[downunder196]

So SFMM is two coasters down for the moment... Cedar Point wins!

Remember when the whole of Cedar Point closed down for the weekend? (it was 3 weeks ago)

[rappa]

I think they had 4 trains AlexB and ran 3 sometimes in peak so they can probably still keep 3 up in peak season.

[downunder196]

Good news! I read that Ninja will open overnight Australia time!

[Gazza]

The Zacspins have reportedly reopened after it was found Terra Mitica had modified the restraints.

[rappa]

Yes it would be good if some details would come out on how exactly.

[Flea]

Wow Intamin would be relieved. Unless of course they had manufacturer approval to make the modifications?

[rappa]

Reports say they didn't.