terrible accident

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by alex894, Jun 23, 2007.

  1. #1
    (CNN) -- A teen who lost her feet in an accident at a Kentucky amusement park has undergone surgery, a park spokeswoman said Friday, while two park operators closed similar rides around the country.

    The Superman Tower of Power at Louisville's Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom was shut down after Thursday's accident, and Six Flags spokeswoman Wendy Goldberg said Friday the company closed similar rides at parks in St. Louis, Missouri; Gurnee, Illinois; and near Washington, D.C., as a precaution, The Associated Press reported.

    Another park operator, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., closed drop rides at Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio; Canada's Wonderland in Toronto, Ontario; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.; Carowinds, in Charlotte, North Carolina; and Great America in Santa Clara, California, the AP reported.

    "We're going to keep these things down until we're certain it's safe," Cedar Fair spokesman Craig Ross told the AP. "We'll wait and see."

    Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom spokeswoman Carolyn McLean said she has been in touch with the injured 13-year-old girl's family and believed the girl is still receiving treatment at the University of Louisville Hospital.

    Hospital spokeswoman Julie Gordon would not discuss details of the surgery or recovery, citing patient privacy.

    The girl's name was not released because she is a minor.

    The girl's feet were completely amputated just below the ankle Thursday afternoon while riding the Superman Tower of Power at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville.

    Her feet were recovered by Six Flags staff and were sent to the hospital with her, McLean said.

    During the Tower of Power ride, passengers are hoisted aloft, suspended momentarily, then pulled down, according to the park's Web site. Passengers -- secured with bars and seat belts but with arms and legs free -- drop 154 feet at 54 mph, stopping "just 20 terrifying feet above the pavement," the Web site says.

    A police dispatcher said a cord wrapped around the girl's feet while she was on the ride.

    "I seen the car go up. Then, like, the cable broke ... and I heard a lot of people screaming," Chris Stinnett, who was at a ride next to the Tower of Power, told CNN affiliate WDRB/WMYO-TV in Louisville.

    "The cable went under the car -- and I seen it pull up and hit a lot of people -- and I seen them bring their legs up," he said. (Watch witnesses describe the accident )

    "We are not confirming that happened," McLean said. "There was a lot of misinformation from witnesses."

    The ride will remain closed until a full investigation by state officials and "our team of experts" is conducted, McLean said.

    The inspectors will interview staff members, witnesses and speak with the girl and her family, she said.

    "Every ride, every investigation is different," she said.

    The rest of the park was operating as normal on Friday.

    Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

    source cnn.com
     
    alex894, Jun 23, 2007 IP
  2. mitcharr

    mitcharr Notable Member

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    #2
    Yeh, i heard about this in australia, was on the news, very horrific accident
     
    mitcharr, Jun 23, 2007 IP
  3. sachin410

    sachin410 Illustrious Member

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    #3
    The ride description has been removed from the six flags site, but the cache is still there:

     
    sachin410, Jun 23, 2007 IP
  4. Dev0115

    Dev0115 Peon

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    #4
    Yeah, the parks name is 6 flags..Its a pretty big park..I was planning on going next month, still plan on it..But this is just sad, hope shes ok..
     
    Dev0115, Jun 23, 2007 IP
  5. cool_78

    cool_78 Guest

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    #5
    Poor girl :( I hope the surgery went ok.
     
    cool_78, Jun 23, 2007 IP
  6. anthonyn

    anthonyn Well-Known Member

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    #6
    Well, sometimes I feel that everything is not suitable for certain people.But we should always be alert after learning through other peoples sad experience.
     
    anthonyn, Jun 23, 2007 IP
  7. unknownkind

    unknownkind Active Member

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    #7
    I heard about this to.. just a few hours ago.. its very horrible what has happened. You'd think, since the last incidents with people dying on raging bull while chewing gum.. they would beef up on their inspections etc. Well I guess we can only hope for the best.
     
    unknownkind, Jun 23, 2007 IP
  8. lorien1973

    lorien1973 Notable Member

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    #8
    lorien1973, Jun 23, 2007 IP