Theme parks and amusement parks are among the most visited attractions in the world. But behind the thrills, there have been many terrifying accidents and ride breakdowns that have made headlines across the globe.
In this blog, we take a deep dive into more than 300 of the most extreme and frightening theme park ride accidents and failures in history.
Some theme park accidents resulting in injuries might qualify for legal action. Bisnar Chase is a top-rated personal injury law firm that handles a wide range of claims, including amusement park injuries. If you think you might have a case, contact us for a free consultation.
The Causes of Amusement Ride Failures
Whether you are at a polished paradise like Disneyland or risking the rickety rides at a fair, there are a few different scenarios that can cause failures and accidents.
Mechanical Failures
At the heart of every ride is a complex system of machinery. But that means that it is susceptible to breakdowns. Ride machinery runs constantly throughout the day, for hours on end. Even with proper inspections and maintenance, the repeated use and stress on parts can cause sudden issues that cannot be predicted.
Common mechanical breakdowns caused by wear and tear can include fatigue cracks and structural issues, overheating, seizing of moving parts, and sensor malfunctions.
Operator Error
Some aspects of theme park ride operation are now automated. And, over time, automation is likely to increase. However, most rides are still run by human operators to some degree.
The most common causes of operator error include the ride attendant not being properly trained, making a mistake, or becoming distracted. The operator could fail to secure or check rider restraints, ignore or misunderstand a safety alarm or warning, or override safety systems.
Rider Negligence
Theme park safety also depends on riders acting responsibly. When park visitors ignore safety warnings, act recklessly, or willfully violate park/ride rules, they can put themselves in danger.
The most common examples include riders deliberately bypassing their safety restraints, having loose objects on rides (such as phones), and getting into out-of-bounds areas.
Manufacturing and Design Flaws
Before a rider comes anywhere near a new amusement park ride, a huge amount of work goes into its creation. Larger parks, in particular, have teams of people working on new rides. The design and structure go through rigorous analysis and testing, but some issues can still slip through the cracks.
There have been instances of inadequate stress analysis, poorly designed restraints that cannot withstand the extreme forces of the ride, and latches and other components that are prone to jamming under certain conditions. In many cases, manufacturing flaws are difficult to spot until the ride is operating consistently and at full capacity.
Case Files: 307 of the Worst Amusement Park Ride Accidents Ever
The following are just some of the theme park ride failures that have occurred over the years. We focused only on those involving rides and resulting in deaths or injuries.
1.
- Year: 1911
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Scenic Railway
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: About 20 people were injured in a crash between two cars on the Scenic Railway. The roof of the leading car on the wooden roller coaster collapsed after colliding with an obstruction in the tunnel. The operator in the lead car braked at the bottom of a mini dip after exiting the tunnel, causing another car to crash into the back of it. The impact sent passengers flying out of their seats in all directions.
One woman suffered a serious gash to her head, while another had a broken nose. Many other riders suffered cuts and bruises, and the ride was shut for the rest of the day. One week earlier, a man and a boy were also injured when their car jumped the track due to decaying parts on the ride. And in 1912, another incident resulted in three people being ejected from the ride. It is believed that 1912 was its final year of operation.
2.
- Year: 1924
- Amusement Park: Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- Location: Santa Cruz, California
- Ride: Giant Dipper
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Walter Fernald Bryne, 15, stood up during the ride and appears to have lost his balance and fallen headfirst onto the track. He was riding in the leading car at the time. The youngster was crushed by the coaster train, sustaining catastrophic injuries. The accident forced operators to add safety belts to the roller coaster for the first time.
3.
- Year: 1926
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Thunderhawk
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Teenage park visitor Beatrice Lausterer, 16, was killed when she fell from a moving roller coaster car. The fatal accident happened when Beatrice rose from her seat to smooth out her dress, which had been pulled out of place by the force of the ride. As the coaster whipped around the top of the second dip at high speed, she fell and hit the ground, suffering fatal injuries.
4.
- Year: 1930
- Amusement Park: Krug Park
- Location: Omaha, Nebraska
- Ride: Big Dipper
- Result: Fatalities and injuries
- What Happened: The accident involving Krug Park’s Big Dipper remains the most deadly roller coaster accident in U.S. history to date. A bolt came loose, causing four cars full of riders to derail and plunge toward the ground. Four people died in the crash: Herschel Stout, 34, Gladys Lundgren, 29, Tony Politika, 22, and Ruth Claire Farrell, 15. Another 17 people were also injured. Following the accident, roller coasters were banned in Omaha. This ban is still technically in place today. Krug Park remained open, but it closed its doors in 1940 after a steady drop in visitors. The area is now a public park called Gallagher Park.
5.
- Year: 1934
- Amusement Park: Lagoon Amusement Park
- Location: Farmington, Utah
- Ride: The White Roller Coaster
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Lagoon Amusement Park employee Ernest Henry Howe, aged 20, died when he was riding on the park’s classic wooden roller coaster. Witnesses said he attempted to stand up as the train rose over its first hill, the tallest on the coaster’s run. But as he stood, he fell out of the coaster train and struck several beams on the ride’s support structure on his way to the ground.
6.
- Year: 1938
- Amusement Park: Waldameer & Water World
- Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Ravine Flyer
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: The Ravine Flyer was a popular wooden roller coaster that crossed a bridge over the Peninsula Drive highway. It opened in 1922 and became a star attraction before a fatal accident forced its closure. A wheel locked on the coaster’s drop, causing it to slow down and become stuck on the bridge ahead of the next incline. One of the passengers panicked, and her brother, Clarence Sersch, 19, got up to comfort her. He lost his balance and fell onto Peninsula Drive. The park owners dismantled the roller coaster.
7.
- Year: 1940
- Amusement Park: Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- Location: Santa Cruz, California
- Ride: Giant Dipper
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: The second fatality on the Giant Dipper was that of Gunner’s Mate Second Class James Piner. The 19-year-old stood up during the ride and fell out of the car, tumbling onto the roof of the tunnel and then falling to the ground. He suffered severe injuries, including a fractured skull, and died two days later.
8.
- Year: 1940
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Ferris Wheel
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 9-year-old boy was riding the miniature Ferris Wheel when he suffered a fatal blow to the head. The youngster, Donald Hassler, stood on his seat within the ride car and poked his head out of an eight-inch opening at the top of the door. As he did so, his head came into contact with a static part of the ride. He died on his way to the hospital from a severe skull fracture. Donald’s dad sued the park in 1941 and was awarded $1,265, plus funeral expenses.
9.
- Year: 1958
- Amusement Park: Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- Location: Santa Cruz, California
- Ride: Giant Dipper
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Peter Alfred Abila, 20, managed to squeeze out from under the safety lap bar on the Giant Dipper while it was running. With nothing holding him in place, Abila fell about 65 feet from the top of the ride, sustaining fatal injuries. Police investigated the accident and concluded that there was no mechanical or operational failure.
10.
- Year: 1959
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Matterhorn
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A worker was checking the ride when he was accidentally hit, falling 100 feet and sustaining severe injuries. Gary Dubach, a 24-year-old machinist, was checking the running gears on the ride. As he did so, a bobsled filled with passengers was released onto the track. It struck Gary and knocked him off the mountain scenery. He survived the fall but sustained extensive injuries. A news article at the time said he was paralyzed from the waist down but was starting to experience small movements in his legs.
11.
- Year: 1963
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Scamper
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 17-year-old broke both of his arms while riding a wooden ‘Wild Mouse’ roller coaster. Duane Coppeler reportedly braced himself within the car, only for the jolt of the ride to break two bones in each of his arms, near the wrist. It is unclear whether there were any malfunctions or issues with the ride. Duane had to have casts on both arms for 8 weeks.
12.
- Year: 1964
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Matterhorn
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 15-year-old boy suffered fatal injuries after standing up in one of the Matterhorn bobsleds as it was in motion. It is believed that Mark Maples undid his lap belt and stood up while the sled was traveling at about 20 mph. He seemingly hit his head on the concrete mountain and fell, landing at the side of the track. Paramedics found Mark unconscious with severe head trauma. He died four days later. There were some allegations that it was a hazing prank gone wrong, but investigators concluded that it was an accident.
13.
- Year: 1967
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Texas
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Ride: Butterfield Stagecoach
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A carriage full of riders was injured when a wheel fell off the Butterfield Stagecoach mid-ride. The horse-drawn carriage was extremely popular, pulling four million passengers through the park from 1961 to 1967. But on this occasion, a wheel fell off, and the carriage overturned.
There were 14 people on board, most of them children, and 11 were injured. A 4-year-old girl had been riding on top of the coach and was pinned underneath it during the accident. She was freed and rushed to hospital for emergency surgery on her feet, and her family filed a lawsuit against Six Flags. The Butterfield Stagecoach ceased operations after the accident.
14.
- Year: 1968
- Amusement Park: Hersheypark
- Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Flying Coaster
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: It was reported in June 1968 that two girls sustained back injuries after being thrown from the Flying Coaster. While details are hard to come by, it appears that the victims were ejected as the ride completed its run due to a hydraulic gear malfunction. They landed about six feet away from the ride and were treated at Good Samaritan Hospital.
15.
- Year: 1972
- Amusement Park: Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- Location: Santa Cruz, California
- Ride: Giant Dipper
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 13-year-old named Edward Crooks was riding the Giant Dipper when he somehow fell from the upper track onto the lower track. He was then struck by the train and dragged along the track. He then fell further onto a restroom roof, where he was found dead by emergency services. The fall happened on a straight portion of track about 15 feet above the sand. It is unclear how or why it happened, but investigators determined that the victim must have escaped his functioning lap bar. This was the final of four fatalities on the Giant Dipper (as of 2025).
16.
- Year: 1972
- Amusement Park: Battersea Park Funfair
- Location: London, United Kingdom
- Ride: Big Dipper
- Result: Multiple Fatalities
- What Happened: Five children died, and 13 others were injured when a wooden roller coaster derailed. The disastrous crash happened when the train was being hoisted up the lift hill. But the rope broke, and the rollback brake failed, sending the train shooting backward down the hill, gathering speed. As it hit the corner, the back carts jumped the tracks and smashed through a barrier.
An investigation revealed over 50 faults with the attraction, and the ride’s manager and engineer were charged with manslaughter in connection with the incident. They were eventually acquitted at trial. The coaster was replaced, but the crowds never returned, and the fair was closed down two years later. A memorial was installed at the site on the 50th anniversary of the accident.
17.
- Year: 1972
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Texas
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Ride: Big Bend
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Two cars collided on the Big Bend coaster in July 1972, with five riders sustaining injuries. Two of the victims were seriously injured and were rushed to Arlington Memorial Hospital. One required emergency surgery and ICU care. The cause of the crash was not released.
18.
- Year: 1974
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Texas
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Ride: Big Bend
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman filed a lawsuit after allegedly being thrown from the Big Bend roller coaster in March 1974. Mrs. Greenough reportedly fell 20 feet and was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. She sustained broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, and multiple lacerations. She claimed the park was negligent and that the ride had insufficient safety restraints, but an investigation did not identify a cause of the fall.
19.
- Year: 1974
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: America Sings
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A young staff member was crushed to death inside a new attraction. Deborah Gail Stone, 18, had just graduated from high school when she started working at Disneyland as a cast member. When she died, Deborah was working on a ride called America Sings, which had opened only three weeks earlier. During a switch between stages on the ride, she was caught between a rotating platform and an interior wall and was crushed. The accident could have been the result of inadequate training or a misstep by the victim. The ride was closed for a few days for safety improvements, including new warning lights and breakaway safety walls.
20.
- Year: 1976
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great America
- Location: Gurnee, Illinois
- Ride: Whizzer
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: There were two accidents on the Whizzer ride within a month, occurring in July and August of 1976. In the first accident, 14 riders sustained minor injuries when two trains collided in the station area. The second accident saw 18 people sustain injuries in another collision. These accidents were not reported until an investigation was carried out in 1980 into an accident on the Whizzer’s sister coaster of the same design, based in California.
21.
- Year: 1976
- Amusement Park: Worlds of Fun
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
- Ride: Screamroller (later renamed Extremeroller)
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A young boy was seriously injured when he was struck by a coaster train. The 8-year-old victim entered a restricted area without knowing it was off-limits. When the ride swooped through the area, it hit the youngster, and he was taken to hospital in critical condition. The family filed a lawsuit and was awarded $1.39 million. The park also installed barriers around the restricted area to prevent future accidents.
22.
- Year: 1977
- Amusement Park: Six Flags AstroWorld
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Ride: Texas Cyclone
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenage girl was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after a fall from the Texas Cyclone roller coaster. Lorraine Winkel, 15, suffered head injuries, two broken ankles, and a concussion when she fell from the ride. Park operators said it was possible that her lap bar had lifted, though they also believe that the victim was riding improperly and may have stood up. Following the accident, the park installed seat belts and safety locks on the lap bars to prevent similar incidents.
23.
Spotlight
- Year: 1978
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Mid-America
- Location: Eureka, Missouri
- Ride: Sky Way
- Result: Fatalities
- What Happened: A cable car on the park’s Sky Way ride crashed to the ground, killing three people and injuring a fourth. The cable car had just started its journey toward the western end of the park. As it reached the first steel support tower on the route, a metal support beam snapped, throwing the car off the cable. The cable remained intact, and the rest of the cars remained suspended in the air, but one car plummeted 75 feet to the ground.
Jennine Weeks, 12, sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries. She survived the fall and was rushed to the hospital for emergency care, but eventually succumbed to her injuries. Her sister Trisha, 10, cousin Kristen Johnson, 15, and uncle Clark Johnson, 25, were all killed in the initial crash.
An automatic safety system halted the ride immediately, saving any other cars from falling. Firefighters brought 35 other riders down safely from the remaining cars using a cherry picker. Sky Way was one of the park’s original rides. About 15 million people had ridden the gondolas without incident before the accident. It had been inspected that day, with no safety issues found. The ride was permanently closed in 1981. Lawsuits were filed on behalf of the victims and resulted in confidential settlements.
24.
- Year: 1978
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Colossus
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 20-year-old woman named Caroline Flores was ejected from the Colossus ride and suffered fatal injuries. The ride had opened in the summer of 1978 and became a top attraction. But just a few months later, two days after Christmas in 1978, the fatal accident occurred. It is believed that the victim’s lap bar did not lock due to her size. That caused the bar to pop open while the ride was in motion, and Caroline Flores was thrown out to her death. Following the accident, Colossus was closed for about a year. It underwent major safety upgrades, including new trains and safety harnessing.
25.
- Year: 1978
- Amusement Park: Worlds of Fun
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
- Ride: Barnstormer
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: About 20 riders were injured after a malfunction caused the Barnstormer to spin out of control. A hydraulic issue caused the ride to descend rapidly, with some of the dangling planes crashing into each other on the way down. Onlookers said the vehicles started to careen wildly, striking each other and crashing into fences and light posts. Some riders were also sprayed with leaking hydraulic fluid. But all injuries were relatively minor, and the ride reopened three weeks later.
26.
- Year: 1978
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Eagles Flight
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A gondola car fell 50 feet to the ground in an accident involving a newlywed couple. Miguel Garcia, 23, and Cathy Garcia, 24, had recently married when they rode the gondola lift skyride. They were allegedly rocking their gondola back and forth as they traveled along the Galaxy route. It is believed that this motion caused the car to detach from its cable and plummet 50 feet to the ground. Miguel was killed in the crash, while Cathy sustained severe injuries. The ride remained open until 1994, when it was permanently closed following an earthquake.
27.
- Year: 1978
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Revolution
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The brakes failed on the Revolution roller coaster, causing minor injuries to 10 riders. A train full of passengers was about halfway up the 75-foot lift hill when the system malfunctioned, allowing the train to shoot backward. A backup safety system kicked in, causing a violent stop. Nine riders were treated and released, while one was admitted for a back injury. The ride was tested and reopened.
28.
- Year: 1979
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Flying Dutchman
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Six people were injured after a crash between coaster cars on the Flying Dutchman. The brakes failed on one of the ride’s cars, causing it to ram into the back of another in a rear-end collision. While most of the injuries were relatively minor, two people were admitted to a nearby hospital with cuts, bruises, back injuries, and suspected broken ribs.
29.
Spotlight
- Year: 1979
- Amusement Park: La Ronde
- Location: Montreal, Canada
- Ride: The Mississippi
- Result: Fatalities
- What Happened: The Mississippi was a sightseeing boat ride on an artificial lake at La Ronde. But the craft capsized during its return leg on one tour. Though the cause is unclear, the boat had started to tilt dramatically to one side. Passengers on board tried to correct the movement, dashing to one side to try to balance the craft. But the sudden movement caused the boat to lurch and capsize. About 50-60 people were thrown into the water, and it is believed that none were wearing life jackets.
Three people drowned and died in the accident, while ten others survived but were taken to the hospital for treatment. The others escaped relatively unscathed. It is believed that the outcome would have been much worse if not for the quick thinking and brave actions of several bystanders, who jumped in to help the casualties escape the 15-foot-deep, muddy lake.
30.
- Year: 1980
- Amusement Park: Action Park
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Ride: Alpine Slide
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: George Larsson Jr., 19, died after an accident involving the Alpine Slide. The brake didn’t work on his sled, causing George to leave the track, tumble down a hillside, and collide with an area of rocks, sustaining a serious head injury. He passed from his injuries eight days later in hospital, just two days before he was meant to be his brother’s best man. The park lied about the incident, claiming that the victim was an employee and was injured out of park hours to avoid reporting the accident to the state. It is also alleged that the park had fake liability insurance at the time. The family reached a settlement with the Action Park owners for $100,000.
31.
- Year: 1980
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Texas
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Ride: Shock Wave
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenage park worker required surgery after falling from the Shock Wave coaster. Jamie Pratt, 17, was on a test run of the ride with other staff members when the accident happened. Miss Pratt had worked at the park for two years as an operator on Shock Wave and was responsible for securing rider lap bars. But she reportedly did not lower her own bar fully and fell about 25 feet from the train. Fortunately, she was at the ride’s lowest point when she fell. But she still sustained serious injuries and required surgery for a broken arm and jaw.
32.
- Year: 1980
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Blue Streak
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Five people were hurt when two roller coaster cars collided. The crash was caused by an angry park customer who interfered with the operator as they were trying to control the ride, preventing them from applying the brake. The victims, all aged 11-15, were taken to a nearby hospital and released with minor injuries.
33.
- Year: 1980
- Amusement Park: Marriott’s Great America
- Location: Santa Clara, California
- Ride: Willard’s Whizzer
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: A 14-year-old boy was killed, and eight other people were injured after one train crashed into another at the ride’s station. A defect caused the ride’s braking system to fail, leading to the high-impact collision. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission filed a complaint against the park because there had been 11 other instances of braking issues in recent years. It was alleged that the park had known of the issue and failed to report it for about a year. It was hit with a civil penalty.
34.
- Year: 1981
- Amusement Park: Seabreeze Amusement Park
- Location: Irondequoit, New York
- Ride: The Enchanter
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 14-year-old named Lynette Papietro was riding The Enchanter with her friends when she left the ride and was crushed between a platform and a barrel. Her injuries proved fatal. The slow-moving ride, which runs at about 3 mph, has a safety chain, and it is unclear whether the victim fell out of the car or climbed out.
35.
- Year: 1981
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: Rolling Thunder
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A park employee was killed during a test run of the Rolling Thunder roller coaster. Scott Tyler, 20, had worked at the park for several summers. He reportedly did not lower the safety bar and simply tried to hold on during a daredevil solo run. But he was thrown out of the ride when it hit a high-speed turn. He sustained a fractured skull and other fatal injuries. The ride was deemed structurally and mechanically safe to reopen two days later.
36.
- Year: 1982
- Amusement Park: Action Park
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Ride: The Kayak Experience
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Two people were injured, and a third died when they suffered electric shocks on a water ride. Jeffrey Nathan, 27, suffered the fatal shock on the Kayak Experience rapid ride. When his kayak tipped over, he climbed out and stepped close to a section of exposed wiring powering the underwater fans. The ride was drained, and inspectors examined the electrical infrastructure. They cleared the park of negligence because the fans were properly installed and maintained. However, the ride never reopened.
37.
- Year: 1982
- Amusement Park: Carowinds
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Ride: Rip Roarin’ Rapids
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Not long after the ride had newly opened, two boats jammed and became stuck. They were then struck by several other rafts as they came down the ride. The impact knocked an empty raft over the guardrail, and several of the stranded riders panicked and jumped into the water. The ride was shut down for an official investigation.
38.
- Year: 1982, 1984, 1987
- Amusement Park: Action Park
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Ride: Tidal Wave Pool
- Result: Multiple fatalities
- What Happened: There were three separate fatal drowning incidents at Action Park’s Tidal Wave Pool, earning it the nickname “The Grave Pool.” George Lopez, 15, died in 1982, Donald DePass, 20, drowned in 1984, and 18-year-old Gregory Grandchamps drowned in 1987. The pool was 15 feet deep at its deepest point, and the fresh water made conditions difficult even for experienced swimmers. Lifeguards recorded over 30 rescues a day on busy days, and the bottom of the pool had to be repainted at one point to make it easier to identify struggling swimmers below the surface.
39.
- Year: 1982
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Journey to the Center of the Earth
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: One of the boats on the classic water ride stopped at the bottom of a drop slide, where it was hit by the next boat down. The ride, which was first installed in 1960, is propelled by a chain on a guide rail. On this occasion, the guide rail dropped out of alignment, leaving the boat stranded in a dangerous position. Four occupants suffered knee and back injuries in the crash. They later filed a lawsuit asking for $10,000 in damages for medical expenses and lost wages.
40.
- Year: 1983
- Amusement Park: Action Park
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Ride: Cannonball Loop
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The Cannonball Loop was an enclosed water slide that had a complete loop at the bottom of the drop. Despite questions about its safety, park owners apparently paid staff members $100 each to test the slide out. Over its first weeks in operation, there were many instances of riders emerging from the slide with bloody noses, damaged teeth, and other head injuries. Safety inspectors shut it down after just one month. Several attempts were made to bring it back into use over the years, but it never lasted long and was finally dismantled in 1996.
41.
- Year: 1983
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Space Mountain
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenager sustained severe injuries after falling out of the high-speed indoor Space Mountain coaster. James Higgins was left partially paralyzed with some brain damage after the fall. He filed a lawsuit alleging that the ride’s lap-bar restraint was defectively designed. However, the case went to trial, and the jury voted 9-3 in favor of Disney. A physicist who was an expert witness for the plaintiff said under cross-examination that gravity would probably keep a rider seated, even if the lap bar were raised. It seems that the jury believed the victim was trying to stand or was not following other instructions.
42.
- Year: 1983
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: Butterfield Stagecoach
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A young boy suffered serious injuries after an accident involving a horse-drawn carriage ride. Shawn Kramer, 4, was run over by the Butterfield Stagecoach, sustaining a broken jaw, broken leg, and collapsed lung. His parents sued the park because there was no fencing preventing children from walking in front of the ride. In return, the park’s owners filed a cross-complaint against the parents, alleging negligence. The family received an upfront payment from the park to help with medical expenses outside of the lawsuit, as well as a payout from their own insurance policy. A barrier was also installed following the accident.
43.
- Year: 1983
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: Eiffel Tower
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A high school student fell to his death during his senior Grad Night event. It is unclear whether the victim, 17-year-old John Harter, was climbing the 300-foot tower or fell from a high area when the accident occurred. He was reportedly inebriated and upset at the time, having argued with his girlfriend throughout the night. Harter was decapitated in the elevator machinery and was found on the roof of the ride’s north elevator.
44.
- Year: 1983
- Amusement Park: Kings Dominion
- Location: Doswell, Virginia
- Ride: Galaxi
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Daniel Watkins, 13, died after suffering a fatal blow to the head while riding on the Galaxi roller coaster. The victim was riding alone on the back seat of the coaster car, so it is unclear exactly how the accident happened. He was found with a fatal head injury when the train returned to the station. The ride did not have restraints or seatbelts, and it was speculated that he stood up during the ride and hit his head on a support beam. The ride was dismantled and replaced after the accident.
45.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Playland Amusement Park (also known as Rye Playland)
- Location: Rye, New York
- Ride: Wild Cat
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A new steel roller coaster was shut down after an accident in which one car crashed into the back of another. It happened just a couple of months after the Wild Cat was installed at Playland. Six people were injured in the collision and were taken to the hospital for treatment, but none of the injuries were severe. Officials suspected the cause was a faulty electric eye sensor, but the coaster was halted for further investigation. The ride remained a fixture at the park until it was replaced in 1991.
46.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Matterhorn
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A woman fell out of a bobsled and was killed when she was struck by the next sled coming down the ride. Dolly Young, 48, was seated at the back of her sled. It is unclear how she fell out, but onlookers spotted Young on her back on the track, trying to get up. About 30 seconds later, the next ride vehicle came around the corner and struck her, decapitating her and trapping the sled on top of her. Investigators found that the victim’s seatbelt was open and may have malfunctioned. A lawsuit was settled out of court, and the ride’s seatbelts were changed.
47.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Mid-America
- Location: Eureka, Missouri
- Ride: Rail Blazer
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A woman died after being thrown out of a stand-up roller coaster. Stella Holcomb, 45, was in the last car of the Rail Blazer when she fell out of her safety harness as the train dipped and made a sharp turn. The victim was larger in size, and it is believed that her restraints were not securely fastened. Her family filed a lawsuit and was awarded $1.8 million. The ride was closed for a month while the restraints were revamped. But it was permanently dismantled less than a year later due to a lack of popularity.
48.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Worlds of Fun
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
- Ride: Fury of the Nile
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Two rafts collided on the river rapids ride, leaving one boy with a broken leg. The incident happened less than a month after the ride opened. One raft crashed into another, causing it to overturn. A 9-year-old boy sustained a broken leg, as well as cuts and scrapes from impacting the concrete walls. One other rider also reported minor injuries. Safety modifications were made to the ride, and it has operated without any other major incidents since then.
49.
Spotlight
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: Haunted Castle
- Result: Fatalities
- What Happened: A fire tore through the Haunted Castle attraction, resulting in several deaths. The blaze started in the strobe light room of the maze-like building when a teenager used a lighter to see where they were going because the lights weren’t working. The lighter ignited part of the flammable foam used inside the attraction, and the fire spread quickly.
Eight teenagers could not escape in time and died of smoke inhalation and severe burns. Park management was acquitted of manslaughter charges. However, the park owners agreed to settlements with the families of the victims. The tragic incident prompted significant updates to the fire codes and attraction permit requirements.
50.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great America
- Location: Gurnee, Illinois
- Ride: The Edge
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Three teenagers were in a car being raised to the top of the ride tower when a malfunction caused the car to plummet to the ground. The car was nearly halfway up the 130-foot thrill ride when the accident happened, dropping the riders about 60 feet. The teens were injured in the impact, though their injuries were not as serious as first feared. Safety improvements were made to the ride, but the public never fully trusted it again, and The Edge was dismantled before the 1986 season.
51.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: King Cobra
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The last car on the King Cobra standing coaster derailed when one of its wheels fell off. The ride was stopped as it approached a corkscrew curve, and the derailed car remained attached to the rest of the train, preventing it from falling. Passengers were stranded about seven feet above the ground until they were manually released from their restraints. One teenage rider suffered a concussion and a sprained neck, while seven others were treated for minor injuries.
52.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Georgia
- Location: Mableton, Georgia
- Ride: Great Air Racer
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: At least 34 passengers were injured on Great Air Racer – an elevated swinging barnstormer-type ride – after a technical malfunction. A computer issue caused the cables supporting the hanging plane-shaped cars to drop out of position. It is unclear whether any of the injuries were serious. The accident happened the year the ride first opened. It remained open until 2000.
53.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Cedar Creek Mine Ride
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A young boy fell out of the front seat of his car on the classic wooden roller coaster as it was speeding down a 30-foot drop. The 5-year-old victim suffered a fractured skull and significant bruising in the fall. When the ride first opened, it had a strict 48-inch height requirement, which was later relaxed to allow smaller children when accompanied by a guardian. It is believed that the victim may have fallen from his cart because he was too small for the ride. Following the accident, the height restriction was reinstated, and better lap bars were installed.
54.
- Year: 1984
- Amusement Park: Action Park
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Ride: Tarzan Swing
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Action Park had three Tarzan Swings, allowing those brave enough to jump off a platform and swing out over a cold spring water pool. While there were multiple injuries involving the Tarzan Swing over the years, one person suffered a heart attack and died. The water temperature was often around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is believed the cold water triggered the cardiac arrest.
55.
Spotlight
- Year: 1986
- Amusement Park: Galaxyland
- Location: Edmonton, Canada
- Ride: Mindbender
- Result: Multiple Fatalities
- What Happened: The deadly crash happened on Mindbender – the world’s largest indoor triple-loop roller coaster, located inside a massive Alberta shopping mall. The accident was caused by four bolts that had become loose on a wheel assembly on the last car of the coaster train. As it was hurtling around the steel track at over 60 mph, the loose wheel assembly fell off, causing the last car to derail and sway off the track.
The car crashed into a concrete pillar, sending the four occupants flying onto the concrete floor below. David Sager, 24, Cindy Sims, 21, and Tony Mandrusiak, 24, all died in the crash. The fourth car occupant, Rodney Chayko, survived with life-altering injuries, including breaking his legs, feet, and pelvis in several places.
An inquiry blamed a now-defunct German ride manufacturer for the crash, with design and manufacturing issues recorded as the official cause of the accident. The Mindbender was closed for a year while owners made key safety updates. They reduced the number of seats in the cars and added extra seatbelt restraints and headrests. The roller coaster is still a top attraction at the mall today.
56.
- Year: 1986
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Monorail
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenager suffered injuries while trying to retrieve his hat from the monorail tracks. He was riding the monorail to the Disneyland hotel at the end of the day when one of his friends knocked his hat onto the tracks. The teen jumped out of his car to grab the hat, but a fiberglass panel broke as he stood on it. He reached out and grabbed a 600-volt monorail cable to break his fall and suffered severe burns and electric shock injuries. He also fractured his arm.
57.
- Year: 1986
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Flying Dutchman
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A computer system failure resulted in a crash that injured two passengers. The sensors in the Flying Dutchman cars flagged that some of the cars were coming too close to each other, forcing the safety brake to kick in. Park operators said the computer forced a hard stop that caused injuries, and two women were taken to the hospital. In a separate accident in 1986, a 13-year-old suffered chest and abdomen injuries when the ride came to a sudden halt. A lawsuit in that case was settled for over $600,000.
58.
- Year: 1986
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Colossus (later renamed Laser)
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: The ride attendant sustained severe foot crush injuries after having his foot pinned between the coaster train and the platform. Christopher Clemens, 19, was working at the park for a summer job when the accident happened. It is unclear how his foot became stuck in that position, but it was pinned by the train and platform for over an hour until emergency services could extract him. One report suggests his toes had to be amputated.
59.
- Year: 1987
- Amusement Park: Hersheypark
- Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Canyon River Rapids
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Four people sustained injuries after their raft overturned on the Canyon River Rapids, falling on top of them. The wet ride featured a series of dips and waterfalls, but the accident occurred at a section of the rapids that was too wide. Following the accident, park owners fixed the design flaw by narrowing the section. The ride reopened and remained a top attraction at the park until 2008, when it was closed to allow for an expansion of the larger Boardwalk water complex.
60.
- Year: 1987
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: Lightnin’ Loops
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A teenage girl plunged to her death after the ride operator forgot to ensure her harness was secured. Karen Anne Brown, 19, visited the park with her boyfriend. She fell from the ride as it reached an upside-down portion at a height of about 75 feet, suffering a fractured skull. She died before reaching the hospital. An investigation found that the operator failed to ensure all passengers were secured, and the victim’s over-the-shoulder harness was not properly fastened. The park was fined, but the ride stayed open until its eventual dismantling in 1992.
61.
- Year: 1987
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Thunder Creek Mountain
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Madeline Silberman was on the water ride with her grandson when their log car stopped suddenly. The jolt caused Madeline to lurch into her grandson, resulting in a broken clavicle. She filed a lawsuit, and while the park claimed the rider was at fault, the case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
62.
- Year: 1987
- Amusement Park: Wonderland Park
- Location: Amarillo, Texas
- Ride: Big Coaster (later renamed Mouse Trap)
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Miguel Perez, 15, died when his restraining bar on the Zyklon-manufactured roller coaster gave way. Near the end of the ride, the bar flew up, sending Miguel flying about 10 feet into the air. He died of head injuries. An investigation concluded that the car was broken and out of use, and the victim jumped in as the ride set off. Operators did not see him board the out-of-service car due to the crowds.
63.
- Year: 1988
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Cedar Creek Mine Ride
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A train full of passengers got stuck on the roller coaster’s second lift hill. While those riders were stuck, operators accidentally allowed a second train with no one on board to leave the station. When it reached the stranded train, it crashed into it, causing several injuries. One of the victims suffered knee, back, and nerve injuries. They filed a lawsuit and were awarded $35,000 by a jury.
64.
- Year: 1989
- Amusement Park: Astroland Coney Island
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Ride: Super Himalaya
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A suspended metal bar that was holding up a decorative canopy came loose and collapsed, falling down and landing on the riders. Seven people were hurt, but none of the injuries were serious. It was the second issue on the ride within a few years, after the Super Himalaya was cited for electrical issues in 1984.
65.
- Year: 1989
- Amusement Park: Lagoon Amusement Park
- Location: Farmington, Utah
- Ride: The White Roller Coaster
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 13-year-old girl named Kilee King died after falling from the front seat of one of the coaster’s cars. As the roller coaster crested its second hill, the girl reportedly stood up beneath her locked safety bar to get more air. As she did so, she lost her balance and slipped out from under the bar, falling onto a grassy area about 35 feet below. She suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation concluded that the lap bar stayed locked and there were no mechanical issues.
66.
- Year: 1989
- Amusement Park: Great America
- Location: Santa Clara, California
- Ride: Logger’s Run
- Result: Fatality and injury
- What Happened: Two boys on a church group trip jumped out of their log flume boat as it approached a lift hill. But Michael Dorsey, 9, fell to his death as he hopped out of the boat. The other boy landed on a platform and survived. The ride was closed for an investigation, but it was concluded that there was no operational or mechanical failure and that it was a deliberate act gone wrong.
67.
Spotlight
- Year: 1989
- Amusement Park: Lagoon Amusement Park
- Location: Farmington, Utah
- Ride: Puff the Little Fire Dragon
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Six-year-old Ryan Beckstead was killed in a tragic accident on the low-speed children’s coaster. He had been on the ride when it came to a complete stop at the station. Several children, including Ryan, thought the ride was over and started to climb out. But the operator, an 18-year-old woman in her first weekend working at the park, asked if they wanted to do another circuit and started the ride up again. Ryan tried to climb back into his car but fell back as the train tilted to move up a small incline.
Ryan fell through a gap in the tracks as the train continued on its brief 10-12 second circuit. The youngster was able to pull himself up through the track, but as he did so, the first car in the train came around and struck him. Police reconstructed the accident, but an investigation found no criminal negligence. It is impossible to slow the ride after it goes over the incline until it gets back to the station. However, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the park, and the ride was only reopened after significant safety upgrades.
68.
- Year: 1989
- Amusement Park: Magic Kingdom at Disney World
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: Pirates of the Caribbean
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A crash between two boats on the famous Pirates of the Caribbean ride resulted in a young boy losing his thumb. Luke Blalock, aged 10, was on the ride with his family when the accident happened. His hand was resting on the side of the boat during the ride. But when another boat crashed into his, the impact amputated his right thumb. The case went to trial, and the jury awarded the boy $881,895. However, The Walt Disney Co. was successful in appealing for a retrial due to improper attorney conduct during closing arguments, which included calling witnesses liars. The result of the retrial was not publicized.
69.
- Year: 1990
- Amusement Park: Rainbow’s End
- Location: Auckland, New Zealand
- Ride: Bungee
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 19-year-old named Thomas Wayne Hemi died after a tragic failed bungee jump. The victim made the jump, but the operator had failed to properly secure the bungee cord harness to his feet, and Hemi sustained fatal injuries in his fall. In a trial, it was revealed that the rider and the operator had been smoking cannabis together beforehand. The operator was found guilty of manslaughter.
70.
- Year: 1990
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: Rolling Thunder
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Kurt Koester, 19, sustained severe injuries when he tried to stand up on the roller coaster. Witnesses reported that Koester attempted to stand as the ride rounded a curve on the wooden track. He fell about 50 feet to the ground and was taken to a hospital with head injuries, lacerations, and multiple fractures.
71.
- Year: 1990
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: King Cobra
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A park employee was injured when they were struck by the King Cobra standing coaster. Kenneth Parker, 18, was standing adjacent to the track while searching for an item that a park visitor had lost, presumably while riding on King Cobra. But he accidentally moved too close to the path of the coaster and was struck by the wheel housing of the passing car. Parker was taken to an intensive care unit in serious but stable condition.
72.
- Year: 1990
- Amusement Park: Kings Dominion
- Location: Doswell, Virginia
- Ride: White Water Canyon
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Two rafts collided on the choppy White Water Canyon water ride, causing one of the boats with three people inside to tip over. Kerry Barr, 22, Travis Barr, 17, and Raymond Wimbrough, 16, were sent crashing into the water. All three were taken to the hospital, and Travis was listed in critical condition. Few other details about the accident were ever released, and the ride is still a crowd favorite today, after more than 40 years in operation.
73.
- Year: 1990
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Disaster Transport
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Three people were injured when a large prop fell onto the tracks of a space-themed indoor roller coaster. A 6-foot plastic foam meteor prop weighing about 150 pounds fell from its bracket into the path of a train, causing a collision. Two people were treated for minor injuries, while a third – named as Steve Champagne, 35 – was flown to a nearby hospital with a neck injury. The accident happened in the same year that the ride was enclosed in an indoor building. It was eventually removed from the park in 2012.
74.
- Year: 1990
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Thunderhawk
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Two roller coaster trains collided in a crash at the bottom of the Thunderhawk ride’s lift hill. Seventeen people were hurt in the crash and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The park investigated the accident and found no mechanical malfunction. It was caused by operator error, with a young second-season employee making a mistake on the controls.
75.
- Year: 1990
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Lightning Falls
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A girl was injured while shooting down Lightning Falls water slide on an inner tube. Jamie Griswold was thrown off the inner tube when she collided with another unoccupied inflatable that was stuck in the tunnel of the ride. She hit the base of the slide hard, suffering facial injuries and back and neck damage. Her parents filed a lawsuit against the park.
76.
- Year: 1991
- Amusement Park: Lakemont Park
- Location: Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Lil’ Leaper
- Result: Serious injury
- What Happened: A ride operator was pinned under a car on the Lil’ Leaper ride. The coaster train stalled straight away and wouldn’t catch on the lift hill, so operator Chris Whitfield, 17, stepped onto the track to tug it onto the lift chain. As he did so, the lead car lurched forward and trapped his leg, dragging him along the track under the car. A parent pulled the coaster brake, and bystanders managed to lift Chris to the ground and do first aid. Their quick thinking saved his life, but his leg was badly mangled and was amputated after he was transported to hospital.
77.
- Year: 1991
- Amusement Park: Niagara Amusement Park (formerly Fantasy Island)
- Location: Grand Island, New York
- Ride: Ferris Wheel
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A teenage boy suffered a fatal fall after his seat became detached, separating from its axle on the Ferris Wheel ride during its rotation. Kenneth Margerum, 14, who was visiting relatives in the area at the time, sustained severe head trauma in the 60-foot fall and succumbed to his injuries. An investigation revealed that the seat had not been properly reconnected after it was removed for maintenance. The victim’s parents filed a lawsuit and accepted a settlement from the park in 1993.
78.
- Year: 1991
- Amusement Park: Magic Kingdom at Disney World
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: Haunted Mansion
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A serious accident occurred when a teenage girl was jumping between cars on the Haunted Mansion ride. Kelly Ferguson, 15, was trying to scare her cousin by jumping from car to car. But she fell and became wedged under one of the ride cars, which dragged her for about 50 feet before the ride was stopped. She suffered a fractured skull and was rushed to a hospital by helicopter for emergency surgery.
79.
- Year: 1991
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: Flight Commander
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A rider was ejected from her seat and fell about 60 feet to the ground. Candy Taylor, 32, was riding solo in a two-seater gondola on the airborne rolling ride. But she slipped out of her restraints, falling and sustaining fatal injuries. An investigation blamed the incident on a lack of seat dividers, in addition to the empty adjacent restraint not being locked. The Flight Commander ride remained closed for the rest of the 1991 season after the accident. It reopened with safety improvements. The victim’s family settled with the park for $336,500 and later sued ride manufacturer Intamin as well.
80.
- Year: 1991
- Amusement Park: Myrtle Beach Pavilion
- Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Ride: Ferris Wheel
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: Youths who were riding in one of the Ferris Wheel cabs rocked it so hard that it flipped over while the ride was in motion, despite repeated warnings from the operator. Ronald Turner, 17, was in the flipped cab and fell, crashing into another cab before falling over 30 feet onto the ground below. Turner suffered fatal head injuries and died from the fall.
Two girls were also injured after being knocked from their cab by the falling teen. One of the girls was left dangling upside down from the wheel, and Pavilion employee Timmy Abbott was praised for climbing up and securing her until rescue crews arrived. There was no mechanical or operating error; the accident was solely caused by the actions of some riders. But the Ferris Wheel was still eventually removed and sold.
81.
- Year: 1991
- Amusement Park: Great America
- Location: Santa Clara, California
- Ride: Yankee Clipper
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Two couples were injured when their boat hydroplaned and flipped over. As it capsized, the raft trapped the riders underwater for a short time before they were able to escape. The accident happened at the bottom of a long drop on the hydroflume ride. Park engineers added a bump at the bottom of the drop to prevent any future hydroplaning accidents. The ride was eventually retired in 1998.
82.
- Year: 1992
- Amusement Park: Playland Amusement Park
- Location: Vancouver, Canada
- Ride: Wooden Roller Coaster
- Result: Minor injury
- What Happened: A 13-year-old girl was lucky to escape serious injury after falling from Playland’s giant wooden-beamed roller coaster. The girl squeezed out from under her safety lap bar and put her feet up on the coaster car in a moment of bravado. But as the car hit a low bank, she was thrown off. Witnesses say it happened at a low point on the track, so she only fell a short distance onto the safety catwalk. But the coaster was traveling quickly, and it was still a hard fall. She was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
83.
- Year: 1992
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Mean Streak
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A rider on the wooden Mean Streak roller coaster had his hand dangling outside the train as it approached the station. The hand was reportedly caught between the train car and the station platform as the train rolled in. The force caused a severe injury, almost severing the hand. Once the world’s tallest and fastest wooden coaster, Mean Streak was retired in 2016 and converted into a new hybrid ride called Steel Vengeance.
84.
- Year: 1993
- Amusement Park: Santa’s Village AZoosment Park
- Location: East Dundee, Illinois
- Ride: Candy Cane Sleigh Ride
- Result: Fatality, injuries
- What Happened: A festive sleigh ride derailed, resulting in one death and several injuries. The sleigh was being pulled by two horses, which became spooked and ran. As it did so, it yanked the sleigh off its tracks and into a tree at speed. Jean Matranza, 67, sustained fatal head injuries, while 15 others suffered minor injuries.
85.
- Year: 1993
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: Tampico Tumbler
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman fell from the high-speed spinning Tampico Tumbler ride while it was in motion. Cheryl Vandegrift, aged in her 30s, appeared to be trying to climb out of the ride while it was running, according to witnesses. The Tumbler reaches heights of 30 feet, but it is unclear how high it was when the victim fell. She was unconscious and had sustained significant head injuries when emergency services arrived to take her to a trauma center. An initial investigation did not find any mechanical faults with the ride.
86.
- Year: 1993
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Hercules
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: At least 15 riders were injured when their train smashed into the back of an empty train on the giant wooden Hercules roller coaster. Despite the ride undergoing safety checks that showed no issues moments earlier, the safety system that should prevent two trains from entering the same block of track failed. It allowed the occupied cars to hit the train in front with enough force to splinter the front cart, stopping with a massive jolt. The riders sustained relatively minor injuries.
87.
- Year: 1993-2000
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great America
- Location: Gurnee, Illinois
- Ride: Cajun Cliffhanger
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: There have been several accidents on the Cajun Cliffhanger ride. In 1993, 11-year-old Tyson Burke was taken to the hospital after his foot became trapped between the floor and the ride’s spinning wall. Next, Adrienne Loduha, 17, saw both of her feet caught in the ride’s floor and was taken to the hospital by an ambulance in 1995. Then, in 2000, 12-year-old Kati Konstantaras had her toes crushed when the ride floor was raised before coming to a stop.
A lawsuit was filed against the park following this third accident. All of the past accidents were detailed during the course of the lawsuit discovery, including several other incidents that occurred from 1993 to 2000. The lawsuit was resolved in an out-of-court settlement, and the ride was permanently shut down.
88.
- Year: 1994
- Amusement Park: Quassy Amusement & Waterpark
- Location: Middlebury, Connecticut
- Ride: Twister
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Michael Mills, aged just 6 years old, had been riding on the spinning Twister attraction. When the ride stopped, Michael started to step out of his car, but the ride suddenly jerked back into motion without warning. He was pinned beneath the axle of the cart and dragged about 60 feet before the ride was shut down.
Park employees tried to revive the youngster, and he was rushed to a medical center for treatment, but died of severe head injuries. Witnesses reported seeing a group of kids gathered near the ride’s control panel as they exited, and it is believed that one of them pushed the button to start the ride, causing the tragic accident.
89.
- Year: 1994
- Amusement Park: Magic Kingdom at Disney World
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: It’s a Small World
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 6-year-old girl fell out of one of the boats on the famous Small World ride. Barbara Paribanez accidentally tumbled out of the slow-moving boat during the ride. It is believed that she was then struck by the following boat, causing serious injuries. They included a broken hip, broken arm, and collapsed lung. She was pulled to safety and eventually made a full recovery. The ride was closed for one day while an inspection was completed.
90.
- Year: 1994
- Amusement Park: Valleyfair
- Location: Shakopee, Minnesota
- Ride: The Flume
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A young girl was injured as she tried to climb out of her log flume boat. The 11-year-old reportedly grew nervous as her boat began to climb the 45-foot lift hill at the start of the ride. She jumped out of the boat and into the water, but then became pinned under the water by another boat. Operators managed to pull her out of the water after several minutes and performed CPR. She was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. It is unclear whether she survived.
91.
- Year: 1994
- Amusement Park: Casino Pier
- Location: Seaside Heights, New Jersey
- Ride: Jet Star
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: The owner of the Jet Star roller coaster, Gerald Smith, was performing maintenance on the ride when he was struck by a test car. Smith was on the track applying lubricant, but the ride operator did not see him and sent a car around the track for the pre-opening test. It hit Smith and caused significant injuries. He was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center, and the incident was filed as an operator error. The roller coaster was dismantled years later in 2000 and replaced with a new ride – confusingly called Star Jet.
92.
- Year: 1994
- Amusement Park: Myrtle Beach Pavilion
- Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Ride: Hydro Surge
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Nine riders suffered injuries, and a 3-year-old girl nearly drowned when a raft on the Hydro Surge river rapids ride overturned. The raft reportedly flipped while lined up at the final conveyor belt, sending the passengers plunging into the water. News reports on the accident are scarce, and the cause of the accident is not known.
93.
- Year: 1994
- Amusement Park: Hersheypark
- Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Tidal Force
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Teenager Rob Muth, 16, was thrown into a metal fence by a powerful wave at the foot of a water ride. Rafts on Tidal Force are taken up a 100-foot lift before shooting down a steep drop and causing a massive splash at the bottom. Riders cross a bridge as they exit the ride and can choose to stand and get hit by the wave as the next raft passes. But Rob Muth was caught off guard by the force of the wave, which knocked him off his feet. He suffered an injury to his wrist and cuts to his head that required stitches. Following the accident, park bosses redesigned the exit so that the wave would crest and shower the exit bridge instead of hitting it full force.
94.
- Year: 1994
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Wave Pool
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 14-year-old boy named Daniel Maracallo drowned in the Wildwater Kingdom wave pool while on a school trip. He visited the park as one of 137 students, but died in the packed wave pool. His body went unnoticed for hours and was eventually found by the after-hours park staff. The case led to legal action; Dorney Park paid $4.1 million, while the Board of Education of the City of New York was found liable for $5.9 million.
95.
- Year: 1995
- Amusement Park: Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks
- Location: Wildwood, New Jersey
- Ride: Great Nor’easter
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A maintenance worker was killed when he was struck in the head by the trailing foot of a roller coaster rider. The 36-year-old victim was collecting trash in a restricted area that was fenced off underneath the new $6 million Great Nor’easter roller coaster that had only opened at the park a few months earlier. The Great Nor’easter propels riders around at 55 mph with their feet dangling unsupported. The maintenance employee was hit by a trailing foot while he worked with great force as the coaster passed by. The blow proved fatal, and the man passed away.
96.
- Year: 1995
- Amusement Park: Worlds of Fun
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
- Ride: Timber Wolf
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A teenage girl fell to her death from the Timber Wolf coaster while it was in motion. Friends of Ryan Bielby, 14, said the girl’s lap bar and seat belt came undone as the train crested a hill. She was thrown out as the ride made a sharp turn and sustained catastrophic injuries. The highest point of the ride is 100 feet, but it is unclear at what point Ryan fell.
The restraints were apparently working and locked at the start of the ride. New restraints were fitted after an investigation, and the park and ride manufacturer settled a lawsuit with the family for $200,000. Five years earlier, 35 people sustained minor injuries after two trains collided due to a control system malfunction as they returned to the station.
97.
- Year: 1995
- Amusement Park: Luna Park Coney Island
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Ride: Hell Hole
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The Hell Hole was a spinning rotor ride that pinned passengers to the inside wall of a circular drum as the floor dropped away. But on this occasion, several of the steel band supports holding the cylinder together snapped, causing it to break apart mid-ride. The operator hit the emergency stop, and at least 13 people were injured as they dropped to the floor. One rider, Lourdes Gonzalez, got tangled in the wreckage. She suffered multiple leg breaks and deep flesh wounds. The ride was permanently closed after the accident.
98.
- Year: 1996
- Amusement Park: Astroland Coney Island
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Ride: Jumbo Jet
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: There were two incidents involving the Jumbo Jet roller coaster within two months in 1996. In May, the bolts on a rear wheel came loose, causing the car to derail and hit a pole. Two people were injured in the crash, and the ride was closed for inspection. But there was another accident in July, this time apparently caused by human error. The operator failed to apply the brakes as the coaster returned to the station, and it slammed into the car in front. One woman sustained a knee injury, and two other riders went to the hospital with chest injuries.
99.
- Year: 1996
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Revolution
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A ride operator was killed when she tried to cross the tracks of a roller coaster. Cherie La Motte, 25, was trying to switch positions with another operator, moving across to the loading side of the platform. But in doing so, she violated a rule banning attendants from stepping onto the tracks while rides are in operation. As she crossed the track, she was bumped by the Revolution coaster train as it slowly entered the station at about 4 mph.
The impact knocked the victim into a pit between the tracks, and she was found dead of massive trauma injuries. Investigators said La Motte was experienced and are unsure why she crossed while the train was still moving.
100.
- Year: 1996
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: Calico Railroad
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: The operator of the Calico Railroad ride was killed after being crushed between two cars. George Berecz, 55, sustained fatal injuries in the accident on a Sunday evening. He was reportedly separating two cars – an operation he had completed thousands of times before – when he became caught and pressed between them. Three separate investigations were launched by park bosses, state officials, and insurers. Another operator was run over and trapped by the ride’s train in 2001.
101.
- Year: 1996
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: Bigfoot River Rapids
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman fell from her river rapids raft as it approached a waterfall drop, suffering several injuries. Camile Wagoner, 36, said her seatbelt malfunctioned and came undone. Panicking, she says she stood up to try to escape the ride, but fell overboard. She suffered rib fractures and had several toenails ripped out in the accident. In a subsequent lawsuit, the park said she was to blame for standing, while the plaintiff’s lawyers blamed the accident on the seatbelt issue. A jury awarded the victim $69,000 for her medical expenses but did not award any punitive damages.
102.
Spotlight
- Year: 1996
- Amusement Park: Old Indiana Fun Park
- Location: Thorntown, Indiana
- Ride: Miniature Train
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: A 4-year-old girl named Emily Hunt and her grandmother, Nancy Jones, 57, were involved in a tragic crash while riding the miniature train ride. The train was designed to travel at 12 mph. However, on this occasion, the operator applied the brakes as the train approached a corner, but it did not slow down. It is believed to have been traveling much faster than its design speed. As it reached the curve, it derailed and tipped over, crushing the two passengers under the weight of the cars. Emily was paralyzed from the chest down, and Nancy was killed in the crash, while others were injured.
The ride had passed two state inspections in the months before the accident. However, it later emerged that the safety inspector had not been properly qualified to inspect amusement park rides. Analysis after the accident showed that the ride’s speedometer and brakes were broken, and an anti-derailment system was missing. An official review showed that the train had derailed 79 times in the two months before the fateful accident. The park reopened for a short time, but the owners declared bankruptcy in 1997, and the site was sold to Six Flags, but never reopened.
103.
- Year: 1996
- Amusement Park: Keansburg Amusement Park
- Location: Keansburg, New Jersey
- Ride: Screamin’ Demon
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: One roller coaster train stopped to pick up passengers at the loading station, and the next train didn’t stop, crashing into the back of the first. The two trains started to move up the lift hill before operators pulled the emergency brake to halt the ride. The collision left seven people with relatively minor injuries. The ride remained closed, and firefighters were called to help two people with severe back injuries who couldn’t walk down the hill. They were rescued with the fire department’s aerial platform.
104.
- Year: 1997
- Amusement Park: Bell’s Amusement Park
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Ride: Wildcat
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: The Wildcat roller coaster malfunctioned as one of the cars reached the top of the lift hill. Instead of shooting forward, the chain ribbon stopped pulling, and the runaway car shot backward down the hill. It careened back about 45 feet before crashing into the following car. A 14-year-old boy was at the front of the following car. The collision was so hard that he was ejected, hitting his head on the front metal bar.
Emergency crews were called, and the boy was pronounced dead at the scene. At least six others sustained injuries in the crash. The park remained open to avoid panic, but the ride was closed for inspection. It was later approved to reopen.
105.
- Year: 1997
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great America
- Location: Gurnee, Illinois
- Ride: Viper
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenage boy lost part of his right hand in a serious accident on the Viper coaster. The injury was blamed on the 14-year-old boy’s own actions. He was reportedly dangling his arm outside the coaster car as it slowed and rolled into the station. As this happened, his arm was pinned tightly between the train and the platform. Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to free the boy, and he was airlifted to a nearby hospital.
106.
- Year: 1997
- Amusement Park: Six Flags AstroWorld
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Ride: Excalibur
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 51-year-old park employee was killed when he was struck by a train on a steel roller coaster called Excalibur. The maintenance staffer was working on the track when the accident happened. A signal was reportedly sent to the operator indicating that the track was clear, so they dispatched an empty test train. The train collided with the man who was still working on the tracks, causing fatal injuries.
107.
- Year: 1997
- Amusement Park: Seabreeze Amusement Park
- Location: Irondequoit, New York
- Ride: Quantum Loop
- Result: Minor injuries
- What Happened: After the eight-story looped roller coaster reached the top of its inclined lift hill, one of its steel wheels locked up, causing the 56 mph coaster car to stop suddenly at the bottom of the 75-foot descent. The riders were treated for minor injuries.
108.
- Year: 1997
- Amusement Park: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
- Location: Santa Claus, Indiana
- Ride: The Firecracker
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Two cars on Holiday World’s smallest roller coaster collided due to a mistake by the ride’s operator. The Firecracker has an automatic brake that slows the cars as they approach the station, but the operator failed to use the manual brake to bring them to a full stop. The automatic brake did its job and greatly reduced the impact of the crash, but a 27-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital as a precaution after the crash.
109.
- Year: 1997
- Amusement Park: Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks
- Location: Wildwood, New Jersey
- Ride: Jet Star
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: When one of the Jet Star roller coaster’s trains got too close to another, the ride’s emergency brake automatically kicked in. The ride was not fitted with seatbelts, and the sudden stop caused a young boy to fall out of his seat and tumble 29 feet onto the boardwalk below. He survived the fall but sustained dental injuries and a fractured jaw due to the impact.
110.
Spotlight
- Year: 1997
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord
- Location: Concord, California
- Ride: Banzai Pipeline
- Result: Injuries and fatality
- What Happened: One girl died, and dozens more were injured when a waterslide collapsed. Tons of teenagers on a graduation outing from Napa High School jammed onto the Banzai Pipeline slide. They ignored warnings from lifeguards and security personnel, squeezing onto the attraction in an attempt to break a senior class record for the number of people on the slide at once. But as more and more people piled on, the chute cracked and fell apart.
The youngsters fell from a height of about 30 feet onto concrete and bushes near the base of the slide as the structure gave way. Many of them struck support poles as they fell. In total, 32 teens sustained injuries, and one 17-year-old girl died from severe head and chest injuries. Park officials said the slide had been in a safe condition, and the accident was solely due to misuse. The debris was removed, and a new slide was built in its place.
111.
- Year: 1998
- Amusement Park: Clementon Park & Splash World
- Location: Clementon, New Jersey
- Ride: Jack Rabbit
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The historic Jack Rabbit was a five-story wooden roller coaster that dated back to 1919. But it derailed and crashed into the park’s management office when the operator allowed the coaster to go through the station without stopping, giving the passengers a second ride. That meant that the train was traveling too fast as it hit the first turn before the lift hill, causing it to derail and leave the track. Three people were injured in the crash. The ride reopened the next year but closed again in 2002 because the train regularly overshot the brake run. The park’s insurance company pressured them to shut it down permanently, and it was demolished in 2007.
112.
- Year: 1998
- Amusement Park: Magic Kingdom at Disney World
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: Space Mountain
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A doctor named Jesus Romero, aged 38, was seemingly knocked unconscious by a falling object while riding on Space Mountain. He was found unconscious in his seat as the ride returned to the station. Romero later reported suffering from brain damage, partial paralysis in his left side, and memory issues. He claimed that he had lost his job as a result of the accident and filed a lawsuit against Disney. However, the lawsuit was thrown out because Romero was found to have lied during depositions.
113.
- Year: 1998
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 5-year-old boy had part of his foot amputated after a serious accident at the end of a run on the Big Thunder roller coaster. On this occasion, the train stopped for a few seconds before it reached the platform at the end of the ride. Victim David Fackler stuck his left foot out of the side of the open car. But when the train started moving again, his foot became wedged between the car and the platform. The force almost tore his foot in half.
He was stuck there for almost an hour while employees tried to free him, and emergency services arrived to take over. All of his toes were amputated, but his foot was saved through several surgeries. The family agreed to a private settlement with Disneyland.
114.
- Year: 1998
- Amusement Park: Six Flags AstroWorld
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Ride: Texas Tornado
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Smoke started wafting from the track of the Texas Tornado coaster when a technical issue caused the ride to malfunction. A train of six cars had almost reached the top of the lift hill when the chain lift mechanism failed, causing the train to shoot backward into the station, where it hit another fully occupied train. Several people were taken to the hospital, and at least two of the victims sued after dealing with back and neck injuries.
115.
- Year: 1998
- Amusement Park: Paramount’s Great America
- Location: Santa Clara, California
- Ride: Top Gun (later renamed Flight Deck)
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Renato Robles’s wife lost her hat while riding on the Top Gun roller coaster. As Renato, aged 25, stepped off the ride, he found where the cap had fallen and climbed over a chain-link fence into an out-of-bounds area to retrieve it. As he did so, the Top Gun coaster passed overhead, and he was struck in the head by the dangling leg of a passenger.
Robles was rushed to the hospital, but died about an hour later from his injury. The rider – 28-year-old Jessica Medina – also suffered a broken leg in the collision. In a strange twist, the victim was originally named to the press as Hector Mendoza, but it was later confirmed that Robles had arrived from Mexico and assumed the Mendoza identity.
116.
- Year: 1998
- Amusement Park: Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks
- Location: Wildwood, New Jersey
- Ride: Sea Serpent
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A wheel came loose and completely detached from a rear axle on the steel shuttle roller coaster. The ride came to a sudden stop, leaving some of the 23 riders suspended upside down for an extended period. Emergency crews rescued the riders, with 14 people reporting injuries. In response to the incident, the park improved its safety and maintenance protocols.
117.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: VisionLand (later renamed Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure)
- Location: Bessemer, Alabama
- Ride: Wild River Gorge
- Result: Minor injuries
- What Happened: A water ride raft flipped over, trapping a woman and four children who had been on the raft at the time. A group of construction workers who witnessed the incident jumped in and were able to save the victims. The cause of the accident was not given. Despite having only just opened at the time, the ride remained closed.
118.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Epcot at Disney World
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: Spaceship Earth
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A young boy was injured after exiting the ride while it was moving. Austin Delgado, aged 5, suffered an open compound leg fracture after falling out of the ride. His leg had multiple breaks, as well as tissue, nerve, and tendon damage that required surgery. Spaceship Earth is slow-moving and dark, with a full circuit taking about 15 minutes. It stops several times, with an announcement asking riders to stay in their cars. Officials are unsure if Austin fell or stepped out of the ride, but attributed the accident to rider error.
119.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Riverside Park
- Location: Agawam, Massachusetts
- Ride: Blizzard River
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Six people were injured when their raft flipped on a new rapids ride. Blizzard River had only recently opened when the accident happened. It was a 1,400 ft artificial river with drops and bottlenecks, with up to eight passengers belted inside a round raft. But on this trip, the raft overturned, trapping the riders underwater. The group included a family of four and two family friends. John Pascone and his young son were hospitalized in critical condition, while two others also required hospital treatment, and the other two escaped with minor injuries.
120.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
- Location: Vallejo, California
- Ride: Scat-a-Bout
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 9-year-old boy was injured when he fell out of the spinning scrambler-style ride. The accident happened in the Marine World section of the park at about 7:30 pm on a Saturday. Park officials said the boy’s restraint was fastened and locked properly. They said the fall was caused solely by the rider squirming from under his restraint while the ride was in motion. He suffered cuts to his legs, but was in stable condition.
121.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Darien Lake
- Location: Corfu, New York
- Ride: Ride of Steel
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A man popped out of the Superman-themed ride on its opening day in 1999 after his lap bar failed to engage due to his size. Michael Dwailabee weighed about 400 lbs at the time, which prevented his safety restraint from locking in. He was on the coaster with his two daughters when the ride came to an abrupt halt, and he was thrown out. The victim suffered significant injuries and filed a lawsuit. The ride’s manufacturer was cleared of wrongdoing, but the park was found liable for failing to ensure Mr. Dwailabee was fully secured. He was awarded $2.85 million. Following the accident, secondary seatbelt restraints were added to the ride.
122.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Carowinds
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Ride: Thunder Road
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Seven riders were injured in a collision between two trains on the dueling wooden roller coaster. A brake sensor failed, causing a crash between the two trains in the station area. One of the trains was empty, while the other was full of riders. All of the injured riders were sent to a local hospital, and the ride was shut for repairs. It was fitted with new sensors, and all other safety mechanisms were audited.
123.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Paramount’s Kings Dominion
- Location: Doswell, Virginia
- Ride: Shockwave
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Timothy Fan, 20, died after falling from the 50-mph Shockwave standing roller coaster. Riders stand while the coaster completes a series of loops, held in place by a restraint system. But Fan was not in the train when it returned to the station, having been ejected on the ride’s final high-speed turn. Park officials said they believe the victim intentionally slipped out of the restraints based on reports from other passengers, blaming the accident on rider misconduct. They said the restraints were still locked at the end of the ride.
124.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: GhostRider
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A 3-foot shard of wood broke off the ride, snapping up and hitting five riders on the coaster. The wooden plank came free from the track during the ride. A 58-year-old tourist took the worst of the impact, suffering a serious head wound. The ride was closed for a week for safety improvements, which included adding metal brackets along the track to prevent panels from coming loose.
125.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Paramount’s Great America
- Location: Santa Clara, California
- Ride: Drop Zone Stunt Tower (now known as Drop Tower: Scream Zone)
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A young boy died when he fell from a large drop tower ride. Joshua Smurphat, aged 12, fell between 50 and 100 feet from the free-fall ride while it was in motion. He died instantly when he hit the concrete below. Witnesses on the ride said they believe the bar holding the victim in place popped open as the ride dropped, but an investigation found that the harness remained locked. Authorities found no evidence of negligence, though a lawsuit was still filed against the park and its staff.
126.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Six Flags New England
- Location: Agawam, Massachusetts
- Ride: Blizzard River
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: At least six people were injured when their raft overturned on Blizzard River, trapping them underwater. The raft overturned about 50 feet from the end of the ride. A family of four and their two friends were in the raft when it flipped and were trapped underwater by their safety belts. While the six victims were rescued, two were admitted to the hospital in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest. The ride was closed for investigators to examine it, but they could not find a cause for the flip. Park owners ensured several safety upgrades were made.
127.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Texas
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Ride: Roaring Rapids
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: A boat on the Roaring Rapids ride overturned, plunging a dozen riders into waist-deep water. Most of the riders managed to undo their seatbelts and escape the capsized vessel, suffering minor injuries in the crash. However, Valeria Cartwright, 28, couldn’t unbuckle her belt. She was trapped in the water and drowned. An initial investigation did not reveal a cause of the accident, which resulted in the park’s first visitor death in nearly 40 years.
128.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Astroland Coney Island
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Ride: Super Himalaya
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: A 17-year-old girl died, and eight others were injured when one of the spinning cars on the Super Himalaya flipped over. It is believed that a piece of wood fell from the ceiling and became wedged between the track and a wheel on one of the cars. The pressure snapped a metal coupling and caused the car to flip onto its side, ejecting teenage rider Nadine Caban. She suffered massive internal injuries and died an hour later. The ride was permanently shut down.
129.
- Year: 1999
- Amusement Park: Gillian’s Wonderland Pier
- Location: Ocean City, New Jersey
- Ride: Wild Wonder
- Result: Fatalities and injuries
- What Happened: A mechanical malfunction caused a fatal roller coaster crash that resulted in two deaths. One of the animal-themed cars on Wild Wonder got stuck on the track and stopped during the ride. The next car crashed into it from behind at high speed, ejecting the two passengers in the stalled car. They both died at a nearby hospital, while the passengers in the other car were treated and released. The ride was shut down for an investigation.
130.
- Year: 2000
- Amusement Park: Geauga Lake (later renamed Six Flags World of Adventure)
- Location: Aurora, Ohio
- Ride: Villain
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A Wisconsin woman sustained serious injuries after she was struck by an object on the Villain ride. Terry Wang suffered a fractured skull and a broken nose on the 60-mph ride. She needed brain and reconstructive surgery after the accident. The Six Flags attorney claimed that Terry was probably hit by another rider’s cell phone, but testimony in a lawsuit revealed that the park had been warned several times about people throwing rocks at the ride. A jury awarded $3.6 million to the victim, and rocks were removed from areas near the attraction.
131.
- Year: 2000
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Alice in Wonderland
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenage boy suffered a broken leg after his foot became stuck between the ride and a guardrail. It is believed that the 15-year-old victim was dangling his leg out of the side of the car. But as he did so, his foot was pinched between the car and the external railing. He suffered a broken leg and foot and was treated at a nearby hospital. The ride stopped automatically, and an investigation confirmed rider error as the cause.
132.
- Year: 2000
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Indiana Jones Adventure
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 23-year-old woman complained of severe headaches after riding Indiana Jones. Cristina Moreno lost consciousness later that day and was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. She died two months later. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Disneyland by her family, blaming the incident on the ride, which is known to be rough.
In an appeal during the legal process, the California Supreme Court ruled that amusement parks are “common carriers” and are subject to a heightened duty of care. But the case was settled out of court for a confidential amount. Despite paying, the Walt Disney Co. maintained that the ride is safe and the woman’s death was unrelated.
133.
- Year: 2000
- Amusement Park: Michigan’s Adventure
- Location: Muskegon, Michigan
- Ride: Zach’s Zoomer
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Susan Carroll, 38, sustained critical injuries when she fell from the wooden roller coaster and hit a support beam. She was rushed to Hackley Hospital with a head injury, broken ribs, internal organ lacerations, and a dislocated elbow. The park blamed the accident on the victim allegedly turning in her seat to take pictures of her children in the next car. However, a subsequent lawsuit refuted this. Her lawyers claimed an inexperienced operator allowed the train to speed through the station for an unexpected second loop, causing it to lurch too quickly through a corner, with Susan Carroll sliding out from under her lap bar.
134.
- Year: 2000
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A young boy fell out of his spinning ride vehicle. Brandon Zucker, aged 4, was run over and then dragged underneath the car, sending him into cardiac arrest and leaving him with massive internal injuries and brain damage. The youngster survived the incident but never walked or talked again. He eventually died of related health complications 8 years later. Investigators found that Brandon had been loaded into the wrong position on the ride. He should have been in a different seat due to his small size, and the operators failed to fully lower the lap bar. A lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed sum.
135.
- Year: 2001
- Amusement Park: Canobie Lake Park
- Location: Salem, New Hampshire
- Ride: Yankee Cannonball
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A collision between two trains on the Yankee Cannonball roller coaster left five riders with minor injuries. It happened at the bottom of the lift hill, and an investigation blamed the crash on human error, finding that the operator failed to apply the brake on time. Since the accident, the park has added a new restriction that allows only one train to run on Yankee Cannonball at a time.
136.
- Year: 2001 and 2002
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
- Location: Vallejo, California
- Ride: Starfish
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: There were two accidents in two years on the Starfish ride at Six Flags Marine World. In May 2001, Sylvia Zavala, 41, fell from the spinning and tilting platform ride. She sustained minor injuries and sued the park, as well as the ride manufacturer. It emerged that an air valve had been installed backward, causing the accident. Starfish was subsequently closed for 10 months for safety upgrades. It passed an inspection and reopened. But in June 2002, a 4-year-old girl also fell from the ride. She was taken to the hospital with serious head injuries. The ride was closed again, and this time, it never reopened.
137.
- Year: 2001
- Amusement Park: Six Flags AstroWorld
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Ride: Mayan Mindbender
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Sam Nguyen, 13, sustained severe injuries when he fell from the Mayan Mindbender coaster. The teen fell out of his restraints, suffering facial fractures, a broken hip, a brain injury, and permanent scarring in the accident. The park claimed that Sam had been standing on the ride, but a subsequent lawsuit blamed it on faulty safety restraints. Sam had to undergo a series of surgeries, but still had some permanent issues. A lawsuit against the amusement park was settled for $1.7 million.
138.
- Year: 2001
- Amusement Park: Michigan’s Adventure
- Location: Muskegon, Michigan
- Ride: Chaos
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The spinning Chaos ride broke free of its axle and collapsed to the ground with a full load of 36 riders onboard. Emergency services were called in to stabilize the ride and cut through the wreckage to free the riders. Most of the riders sustained minor injuries in the crash. At least 16 were taken to a nearby hospital, while two were airlifted to a trauma center for further treatment. Cedar Fair closed the ride and several others with similar designs at other parks while an investigation was carried out. Chaos was removed from the park for the 2002 season.
139.
- Year: 2001
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: Perilous Plunge
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A woman fell to her death after slipping through her restraints on a water ride. Perilous Plunge became the world’s tallest Shoot-the-Chute-style water flume ride when it was installed in 2000. But Lori Mason-Larez, 40, died on the ride in 2001 after falling through her seat belt and lap bar during the ride’s 115-foot drop. Investigators blamed the accident on inadequate restraints and said the victim’s size and weight may also have factored in. Her family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the park and the ride’s manufacturer, Intamin. Perilous Plunge was removed from the park over a decade later.
140.
- Year: 2001
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: The Beast
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Twenty riders were taken to Bethesda North Hospital after a collision between two coaster cars. Ride operators were in the process of shutting down The Beast due to a rain shower that was making conditions precarious. As they did so, the brakes failed on a car approaching the station. The malfunction was attributed to the slick track conditions. The runaway car crashed into a stationary car that riders were climbing out of.
141.
- Year: 2001
- Amusement Park: Six Flags New England
- Location: Agawam, Massachusetts
- Ride: Superman Ride of Steel
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The Superman train failed to stop at the station and slammed into the waiting train in front. Three people were knocked unconscious in the crash, with injuries ranging from broken jaws and broken noses to whiplash. About 22 riders in total suffered injuries. Some of the victims were treated on-site, while others were taken to Bay State Medical Center. The coaster can reach speeds of 80 mph, and it was still traveling at 20 mph as it reached the station. The impact was hard enough to bend the steel in some of the car structures. An investigation was launched into the cause.
142.
- Year: 2002
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great America
- Location: Gurnee, Illinois
- Ride: American Eagle
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A family filed a lawsuit against Six Flags after their daughter suffered a brain hemorrhage. Courtney Philbin, 11, rode the American Eagle roller coaster and other rides at Six Flags one day in 2002. She started experiencing head pain soon afterward, and the pain worsened throughout the day. That night, she woke screaming in pain and soon lost consciousness.
She was taken to Glenbrook Hospital, but was then transferred to a specialist unit at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Courtney underwent brain surgery and remained in a coma for four days. The family filed a lawsuit, but representatives from the park maintained that it was unlikely the injuries were caused solely by the ride.
143.
- Year: 2002
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Georgia
- Location: Mableton, Georgia
- Ride: Batman: The Ride
- Result: Injury and fatality
- What Happened: A park worker died after being struck by the dangling leg of a rider. Samuel Milton Guyton, 58, was standing in a restricted area under the ride when the accident happened. He was hit by the leg of a teenage girl riding in the first car of the ride. The force of the impact caused the victim to go into heart failure, and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The restricted area was off-limits to staff while the ride was running, and investigators are unsure why Guyton was there.
144.
- Year: 2003
- Amusement Park: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
- Location: Santa Claus, Indiana
- Ride: The Raven
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A woman fell to her death while riding on The Raven roller coaster. Tamar Fellner, 32, who was at the park with fellow members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, was riding in the last car of the coaster train when the accident happened. She was spotted “virtually standing up” during the ride prior to her fall. Her seatbelt and lap bar were confirmed to have been secured before the ride set off, but the belt was undone when the train returned to the station. The park was closed for a day, and the larger rides were closed for longer. But state inspectors found no sign of mechanical or safety issues. A lawsuit was settled out of court.
145.
- Year: 2003
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Marcelo Torres, aged 22, died when the Big Thunder coaster derailed and crashed. The train-style ride left its tracks in a tunnel, causing one death and injuries to 10 other riders. Marcelo Torres was riding in the first car at the time. He died of severe blunt force trauma injuries when part of the train fell on and crushed him. An investigation concluded that the accident was caused by subpar maintenance. Fasteners on the locomotive’s floating axle had not been properly tightened and secured, causing the axle to come loose and jam against a brake section while in motion.
146.
- Year: 2003
- Amusement Park: Six Flags AstroWorld
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Ride: Texas Cyclone
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 12-foot-long 2×6 wooden plank fell off the Texas Cyclone roller coaster’s support scaffolding as a train passed, striking one of the riders in the head. It was alleged that eyewitnesses had previously reported being alarmed by a loose board on the ride, but claimed the concerns were never fixed.
147.
- Year: 2003
- Amusement Park: Canada’s Wonderland
- Location: Vaughan, Ontario
- Ride: Jimmy Neutron Brainwasher (later renamed Woodstock Whirlybirds)
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Three children aged from 10 to 13 were taken to the hospital with injuries after their spinning car fell to the ground. The ride features pods secured on the ends of outstretched arms that rotate. But one of the pods suddenly detached from the arm, dropping several feet and crashing against the ground below. The injuries were described as relatively minor, but the victims were airlifted to Toronto Hospital. An investigation was launched, but it did not immediately identify a cause for the malfunction.
148.
- Year: 2003
- Amusement Park: Nagashima Spa Land
- Location: Kuwana, Japan
- Ride: Steel Dragon 2000
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The huge Steel Dragon roller coaster derailed when an axle sheared on the front car, causing it to lose several wheels mid-ride. A 20-year-old passenger at the front of the ride suffered back injuries and a broken hip in the accident. An unsuspecting man in a nearby swimming pool was also struck by a flying wheel. Routine inspections had been completed on the ride that morning, not long before the accident occurred. When it opened, Steel Dragon was the longest roller coaster in the world and the tallest complete-circuit coaster, hitting speeds of up to 95 mph. After the accident, it was closed for three years before reopening in 2006.
149.
- Year: 2003
- Amusement Park: Six Flags New Orleans
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Ride: Joker’s Jukebox
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A woman died after being struck by the teacup-style ride with 30 spinning cars attached to large arms. Rosa Donaldson, 52, was standing between the arms and strapping her 4-year-old grandson in when the accident happened. The operator started the ride, unaware that Rosa was still standing in harm’s way. She was struck twice by the ride and later died of internal injuries. Following the accident, the park added mirrors to the ride to allow operators to check the gaps between the cars and ensure it is clear. They also added a PA warning to alert people before the ride starts moving.
150.
- Year: 2004
- Amusement Park: Six Flags New England
- Location: Agawam, Massachusetts
- Ride: Superman: The Ride
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A man died after being ejected from the Superman-themed ride while it was in motion. Stanley Mordarsky, 55, fell to his death on the ride’s final turn because his T-bar lap restraint was not properly fastened. His girth apparently prevented the bar from locking, and operators failed to check his restraint before launching the ride. Investigators found that there were no issues with the ride itself. They placed the blame on the operators and on Mr. Mordarsky, who had also failed to disclose a pre-existing medical condition.
151.
- Year: 2004
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A family sued Disney after being involved in an accident on Big Thunder. Gerald Cope was completing a run on the coaster with his wife and two children when their train failed to stop and crashed into the back of stationary cars that were being loaded with passengers at the platform. Gerald suffered back injuries that required multiple surgeries, while the rest of the family was left with minor injuries. A state investigation found that the crash was caused by improper maintenance. The lawsuit accused Disney of failing to follow safety procedures.
152.
- Year: 2004
- Amusement Park: Rockin’ Raceway
- Location: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Ride: The Hawk
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: June Carol Alexander, 50, fell 60 feet to her death when her harness came loose in mid-air on the pendulum Hawk ride. Investigators believed that the ride’s safety mechanism had been tampered with, allowing it to launch without the harness secured. The park manager, Charles Martin, was convicted of reckless homicide.
153.
- Year: 2004
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great America
- Location: Gurnee, Illinois
- Ride: Ragin’ Cajun
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A maintenance worker was killed while performing routine work on the brand new Ragin’ Cajun ride on its first day of operation. Jack Brouse, 52, was on the ground beneath the tracks when a fully loaded train was dispatched and struck him in the head. He died from a traumatic brain injury. The ride was newly installed at the time and had been inspected and licensed just one day earlier.
154.
- Year: 2004
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Scream
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Ride operator Bantita Rackchamroon, aged 21, was struck and killed by the Scream roller coaster before the park opened for the day. She walked onto the tracks in a restricted area while performing pre-opening safety inspections and was struck during a test run. The ride’s brakes and other safety systems were tested by Occupational Safety and Health investigators before being given the green light to return to operation.
155.
- Year: 2004
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Top Thrill Dragster
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The launch cable on the Top Thrill Dragster sheared off, sending debris flying toward riders. Metal shards and pieces of rubber shot out of the ride, injuring at least four people. One of the passengers had a piece of metal pierce through their ear, while another was left with metal embedded in their arm. Others suffered scrapes and burns. Witnesses said some passengers got off the ride covered in blood.
156.
- Year: 2004
- Amusement Park: Playland Amusement Park (also known as Rye Playland)
- Location: Rye, New York
- Ride: Mind Scrambler
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 7-year-old girl suffered fatal injuries after falling from the spinning Mind Scrambler ride. The victim, Stephanie Dieudonne, had been on the ride several times, and her friends said she was getting braver with each turn. Eventually, she reportedly wriggled out from beneath her lap bar and knelt on the seat to wave to her friends in the car behind. But as she did so, she fell from the car and sustained severe head trauma. The ride was inspected every morning, and its safety features were all working properly. Its permit was suspended pending a full investigation, but it was eventually cleared to reopen.
157.
- Year: 2005
- Amusement Park: Adventureland
- Location: East Farmingdale, New York
- Ride: Ladybug Coaster
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A teenager who worked at Adventureland was struck and killed by one of the cars on the roller coaster he was operating. Stephen Gary, 18, was leaning over the track near the operating controls. There was no one on the ride at the time, and it’s believed he may have been performing maintenance on the ride. As one of the two-person cars returned to the platform, it struck the victim and pinned him under the car. He died of blunt force trauma and crush injuries.
158.
- Year: 2005
- Amusement Park: Disney California Adventure Park
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: California Screamin’
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: About 15 riders were injured when one train rear-ended another as they came to the end of the ride. The crash happened at relatively low speed at the end of the 55 mph roller coaster’s run. One of the trains stopped as it should, while the following train kept going and crashed into the back of it. Many of the riders complained of back and neck pain, and one was removed from the ride on a back brace board. Investigators could not find a cause for the malfunction.
159.
- Year: 2005
- Amusement Park: Paramount’s Great America
- Location: Santa Clara, California
- Ride: Rip Roaring Rapids
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: There were two separate accidents occurring four days apart on the Rip Roaring Rapids in August 2005. In both cases, the rafts hit the course brakes and came to a sudden stop, with at least one rider sustaining bruising and broken ribs in the jolt. According to the accident report, there had been at least six other similar incidents over the past three years at the time of the injuries.
160.
- Year: 2005
- Amusement Park: Adventureland
- Location: East Farmingdale, New York
- Ride: Top Scan
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Barbara Brady, 45, died when she was thrown from the spinning ride manufactured by Mondial. Her body flew over a 20-foot wall and landed on a car in the adjacent parking lot. The ride had a failsafe that prevented it from launching unless all harnesses were secured, but it appears that the victim’s safety restraint somehow gave way mid-ride. The park accepted responsibility, settled with the family, and removed Top Scan from use.
161.
- Year: 2005
- Amusement Park: Playland Amusement Park (also known as Rye Playland)
- Location: Rye, New York
- Ride: Ye Old Mill
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 7-year-old boy died after a fatal accident on a water ride. The youngster rode in one of the rafts alone but was missing when it returned to the start point. The ride was evacuated for a search, and the victim’s body was found in the water, stuck under an internal conveyor belt. It is believed that the boy, later named as Jon-Kely Cassara, stood up to try to get off the ride as his boat passed through a dark tunnel, but fell as he did so. While the ride was relatively slow and gentle, the boy’s family sued the county-owned park for negligence and reached a $1.25 million settlement.
162.
- Year: 2005
- Amusement Park: Stratosphere Tower (also known as The Strat)
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Ride: Insanity
- Result: No injuries
- What Happened: Two people were stranded in space, dangling hundreds of feet in the air, when their ride shut down in high winds. Insanity is a thrill ride on top of the Strat tower in Vegas. An arm extends out 64 feet from the side of the building and dangles riders over the edge, 900 feet above the strip. It tilts them down at a 70-degree angle toward the ground and spins them at 40 mph. But a teenager and her 11-year-old cousin were stranded on the ride at about 1am when the ride automatically shut down as wind speeds topped 60 mph.
It did not malfunction – the auto stop was a safety feature on the ride. Operators waited for the winds to die down to bring the girls to safety. When the winds stayed strong, and the ride was stuck in pause mode for over 80 minutes, a worker was forced to crawl out on the arm and attach a chain to manually bring the riders in. While this incident did not result in injuries, it did involve an unorthodox ride with passengers stranded in a very precarious situation. Insanity has been closed since March 2023.
163.
- Year: 2006
- Amusement Park: Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin’
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Ride: Over the Rainbow
- Result: Serious injuries
- What Happened: A 2-year-old fell nearly 30 feet from the rainbow-style platform ride as it rotated upward. Young Kobe Carter suffered broken bones in both arms and both legs after the frightening fall. It appeared that he wriggled out of the seat, and his family filed a lawsuit against the park because the seat next to Kobe was broken, preventing his mom from sitting with him and supervising during the ride.
164.
- Year: 2006
- Amusement Park: Magic Kingdom at Disney World
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: Peter Pan’s Flight
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A man became pinned under a ride when he fell on the boarding conveyor belt. The 70-year-old victim was standing on the belt that carries guests to board the Peter Pan ride when the accident happened. He lost his balance, falling into the path of the next vehicle on the conveyor belt and becoming pinned under it. His injuries were considered serious but not critical, and the ride was found to be operating safely.
165.
- Year: 2006
- Amusement Park: Valleyfair
- Location: Shakopee, Minnesota
- Ride: Wild Thing
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The rear car of the Wild Thing coaster somehow separated from the rest of the train and tipped over. One of the middle cars reportedly started smoking and jerking, causing the next car to tip and round the final corner on its side. The ride had 35 people on at the time, and 18 of the passengers sustained minor injuries. Of those, 14 were taken to St. Francis Regional Medical Center for treatment.
166.
- Year: 2006
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: Son of Beast
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A support beam on the Son of Beast roller coaster cracked, causing it to give way. This created a bump on the track, producing a jarring pothole effect for riders. A trainload of about 27 passengers went over the bump, and 19 of them required hospital treatment for whiplash and other injuries. The ride was subsequently shut down for the season. In a series of improvements, including some linked to the 2006 accident, park owners removed the coaster’s loop, reinforced and retracked it, and replaced the old trains. It reopened one year later in 2007.
167.
- Year: 2006
- Amusement Park: Kings Dominion
- Location: Doswell, Virginia
- Ride: Volcano
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A coaster’s damaged launch system caused a crash and several severe injuries. A train on the Volcano roller coaster somehow loosened a steel frame holding the ride’s launch track in place. When the next train came along, the launch system was badly damaged. It resulted in the train rolling backward down the track, with shards of metal from the track system flying off. One man suffered a deep cut above his eye and a cracked skull, while a boy sustained a severe leg contusion, and 12 other riders were left stranded. An investigation showed that the accident was caused by human error, and the ride was closed for several weeks for repairs.
168.
- Year: 2006
- Amusement Park: Star City
- Location: Pasay, Philippines
- Ride: Wild River Jungle Splash
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Young rider Rachel Suba, 13, felt dizzy as she was riding on the Wild River ride. She tried to stand up in the log boat, but did so just as it encountered a drop. It caused the girl to tumble 38 feet and sustain fatal injuries. Following the incident, park engineers designed and added safety features for the ride, including wire mesh and an escape catwalk for riders who are feeling unwell. Park bosses agreed to a settlement with the victim’s family.
169.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Magnum XL-200
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: As the top-rated Magnum XL-200 roller coaster approached the station, its final brake failed to stop the train. It crashed into the next train, which was waiting in the holding area, at about 10 mph. Several people suffered minor injuries, and both trains sustained fiberglass damage. Park bosses investigated the crash and believe it was caused by slick rails in the wet weather.
170.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Six Flags America
- Location: Woodmore, Maryland
- Ride: Octopus
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 6-year-old girl reportedly stood up as the spinning flat-ground Octopus ride was starting to move. She was thrown out of the ride and fell about four feet to the ground. While she sustained hip, leg, and head injuries, the girl was expected to make a full recovery. The accident was attributed to rider error.
171.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Six Flags America
- Location: Woodmore, Maryland
- Ride: Two Face: The Flip Side
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The inverted boomerang roller coaster stalled on its lift hill, leaving passengers stranded for about 40 minutes. Eventually, a ride attendant tried to rescue the riders. However, during the rescue, the train accidentally shot back down the hill into the station, ripping a hydraulic fluid pipeline as it went. Some of the fluid sprayed at the riders, causing minor injuries. Other riders suffered back and neck pain from the impact of the train crashing back into the station. While the coaster had been inspected that day, it is believed a sensor failed ahead of that final ride. The Flip Side never reopened the following season and was dismantled and sold in 2009.
172.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Astroworld Coney Island
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Ride: Polar Express
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenage girl was riding the circular Polar Express ride when her lap restraint belt broke. The speed and force of the ride threw the 15-year-old from her car. She suffered a head injury and neck pain in the fall and was taken to the hospital, while state investigators came to check the ride.
173.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Carowinds
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Ride: BORG Assimilator (renamed Nighthawk)
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Seven park employees suffered minor injuries when the Star Trek-themed ride suffered a mechanical failure on a test run. The ride’s emergency brake engaged at the bottom of a vertical loop. An inspection revealed that the operator accidentally hit a button that controls seat position changes, causing the safety system to kick in. The button settings were changed to prevent similar accidents. The ride was the first Star Trek-themed attraction, but was later renamed Nighthawk after the park lost Paramount branding rights.
174.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Water Works Park
- Location: Denton, Texas
- Ride: Yellow Speed Slide
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A young girl, aged 10, suffered injuries on a speed water slide. Lifeguards said the girl did not follow park safety instructions by failing to cross her ankles to avoid straddle injuries. But the victim’s family said she had crossed her ankles, but the water pressure forced them apart. The girl required surgery for her injuries, and the park denied wrongdoing.
175.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Siam Amazing Park (also known as Siam Park City)
- Location: Bangkok, Thailand
- Ride: Indiana Log
- Result: Fatality, injuries
- What Happened: An electric power outage caused a water pump to fail on the log flume ride. One of the log cars derailed and fell 66 feet to the ground from the top of the large-drop lift hill. The following car reportedly did the same thing, crashing down on top of the first car. A 35-year-old woman suffered severe internal injuries in the crash and died, while five others were injured, including four children under the age of 10.
176.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Adventureland
- Location: East Farmingdale, New York
- Ride: Super Raider funhouse
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Six-year-old Charlie DeMarco visited Adventureland with his family. But the trip almost ended in disaster when the youngster fell and got his hand wedged between a moving metal floor plate and the side wall of the Super Raider funhouse. Charlie suffered a severe gash to his hand before his sister managed to free him. The family announced plans to file a lawsuit against the venue.
177.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Playland Amusement Park (also known as Rye Playland)
- Location: Rye, New York
- Ride: Mind Scrambler
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A park worker was thrown from the ride that she managed in a tragic accident. Gabriela Garin, 21, had worked at Playland for seven years and was tasked with managing the Mind Scrambler ride. After being relieved by a new operator at the end of her shift, Gabriela was kneeling backwards in one of the ride cars while new riders were loading onto Mind Scrambler.
The new operator apparently did not realize she was on the ride and started it. Within 20 seconds, the young mom was thrown from the ride and suffered fatal injuries. Garin had also been working on the Mind Scrambler three years earlier when a young girl fell and died. Following the latest incident, the ride was permanently closed.
178.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Luna Park Coney Island
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Ride: Cyclone
- Result: Injury leading to fatality
- What Happened: A tourist suffered a broken neck while riding on the Cyclone roller coaster. He later died from complications apparently related to the severe injury. Keith Shirasawa, 53, felt his head snap back in a whiplash motion on the ride’s opening 85-foot drop. He started to lose feeling in his legs after stepping off the ride, and an ambulance was called. No accident report was filed with the park at the time. Keith was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors found three fractured vertebrae in his neck. He had successful emergency surgery but died the following day.
179.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Expoland
- Location: Suita, Japan
- Ride: Fujin Raijin II
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: A broken axle on the second car of the Fujin Raijin II roller coaster caused it to derail and tilt sideways at a 45-degree angle. The motion sent passengers flying off the train. Eighteen passengers were injured, and Yoshino Yogowara, 19, suffered a fatal head injury after she was ejected into a nearby guardrail. A routine inspection was due to take place two months earlier and should have caught the axle issue. But the inspection never took place.
The 75 mph roller coaster had operated without incident for 15 years, and the park had been thriving for three decades. But when it reopened after the accident, patrons stayed away, and it was forced to close permanently less than two years later.
180.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: Gillian’s Wonderland Pier
- Location: Ocean City, New Jersey
- Ride: Canyon Falls Log Flume
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Five people were injured when a log flume ride malfunctioned, causing one of the boats to shoot backward down a lift hill. The log-shaped rafts are pulled up to the top of multiple peaks using conveyor belts. But a bolt on one of the belts came loose, raising the boat off its friction pad. A drain at the rear of the boat was also stuck open, causing it to take on water and carry more weight than usual. The injured parties included two children, aged 12 and 9, but none of the injuries were serious.
181.
- Year: 2007
- Amusement Park: The Park At MOA
- Location: Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Ride: Log Chute
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: An accident on the log chute ride occurred when the lift hill conveyor belt malfunctioned. It caused a sudden stop, with two of the log cars crashing into each other. Fortunately, the crash only resulted in minor injuries. The ride was shut down for inspection and reopened a few weeks later.
The accident happened in a transition phase for the park. It was originally named Camp Snoopy and operated that way for over 20 years before the Peanuts franchise rights were lost. It became The Park at Mall of America (MOA), before a new licensing deal saw it relaunched as Nickelodeon Universe.
182.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Siam Amazing Park (also known as Siam Park City)
- Location: Bangkok, Thailand
- Ride: Super Spiral
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A lower section of the corkscrew water slide collapsed and broke off, leaving a sudden drop of nearly seven feet from the end of the Super Spiral slide onto the ground. In total, 28 children went down the slide and suffered injuries before the ride could be closed. They were taken to the hospital with a variety of injuries, including head wounds and broken bones.
183.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Ninja
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A man suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after he was struck by the Ninja roller coaster. Carlos Ibanez, who was aged 20 at the time of the accident, scaled two fences to get to a restricted area in an attempt to retrieve his Dodgers hat. While walking through the restricted area, he was struck by the moving coaster train and was hospitalized due to the severity of his injuries. His family filed a lawsuit against the park, and the first trial ended with a deadlocked jury. A second trial found in favor of Magic Mountain, and the decision was confirmed on appeal.
184.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Georgia
- Location: Mableton, Georgia
- Ride: Batman: The Ride
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Teenager Asia LeeShawn Furgeson, aged 17, lost his hat while riding on the Batman-themed roller coaster. After getting off the ride, he climbed over two fences to get into a restricted area to retrieve it. While in the restricted area, he was struck by the coaster, which was traveling at about 50 mph, and was decapitated. The ride was closed for the rest of the day and reopened the following day. It was ruled an accident, and the park was not found to be negligent, despite a similar accident happening beneath the same ride a few years earlier.
185.
- Year: 2008 and 2011
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: WildCat
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The WildCat roller coaster has had several incidents over the years. In 2008, a car rolled back down the opening lift hill and crashed into the station, with nine people suffering bruises and sprains. Another accident occurred in 2011, when a brake malfunction caused one car to crash into another as it returned to the station, causing three people to visit a nearby hospital for treatment. It was repaired and returned to action, but the WildCat was removed from the park for the 2012 season.
186.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Rainbow’s End
- Location: Auckland, New Zealand
- Ride: Ferris Wheel
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A park staff member named Michael Stuart, aged 20, was killed when he became trapped in the Ferris Wheel while carrying out maintenance on the ride. He was cleaning the children’s ride but became wedged between the frame and one of the carriage compartments while the ride was in motion. He died at the scene, and firefighters had to prise parts of the ride apart to release him. While the ride was cleared, it remained closed immediately after the accident. The park was also closed so friends and colleagues could attend Mr. Stuart’s funeral.
187.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Location: Santa Cruz, California
- Ride: Cyclone
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A door came free and flew off the stand-up spinning Cyclone ride while it was in motion. It struck a 9-year-old boy on the ride, injuring his leg. A woman on the ride also reported being struck by an object. They were treated by paramedics at the scene and released.
188.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Casino Park
- Location: Seaside Heights, New Jersey
- Ride: Star Jet
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A Bulgarian student named Stanislav Dragnev, aged 21, was killed when he was struck in the head by the Star Jet roller coaster. The victim was in the U.S. on an international work-study program and was working at Casino Park and operating the Star Jet ride at the time. He ducked into a restricted area to retrieve a rider’s hat and was tragically hit by the coaster car. The Star Jet remained in operation until 2012, when it was swept into the ocean by Hurricane Sandy.
189.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Nickelodeon Universe
- Location: Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Ride: Backyardigans Swing-Along
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Four people were injured after a swinging ride malfunctioned. The mushroom-shaped ride with hanging swings began spinning faster than its preset rate due to a mechanical issue, not operator error. Four of the people on the ride suffered leg injuries in the accident and were treated at the park. Staff shut the ride down while maintenance crews worked to locate the issue.
190.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Luna Park Coney Island
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Ride: Cyclone
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Paula Noone, 52, suffered two herniated discs in her back, as well as a concussion, after being whipped back and forth by the speed and 6G force of the Cyclone roller coaster. Noone filed a lawsuit against the park, citing excessive ride speed and subpar restraints. A jury found her 60% at fault for the injuries because she had a sprained neck several years earlier. However, the jury still awarded her $1.5 million.
191.
- Year: 2008
- Amusement Park: Adventureland
- Location: East Farmingdale, New York
- Ride: Haunted Mansion
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A young girl was struck in the head by a 10-foot skeleton, causing injuries to her neck. The five-year-old walked beneath the skeleton prop, which was rigged to ride a bicycle back and forth across a tightrope suspended in the air. But the rope snapped, and the skeleton fell into the youngster, leaving her dazed and with a laceration to her neck. She was treated at a nearby hospital.
192.
- Year: 2009
- Amusement Park: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (originally Santa Claus Land)
- Location: Santa Claus, Indiana
- Ride: Bahari River
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A large number of people suffered illness and side effects after a filter pump malfunction on Splashin’ Safari’s 1,100-foot lazy river. The mechanical fault caused a large amount of chlorine and muriatic acid to be pumped into the water. Many guests reported trouble breathing and nausea, and 24 people were taken to Jasper Memorial Hospital. The Bahari River was the only pool to be run on the malfunctioning system. Once it was fixed, the pool was reopened as normal, and none of the victims suffered any lasting impact.
193.
- Year: 2009
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Georgia
- Location: Mableton, Georgia
- Ride: Wheelie
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: After the spinning Wheelie ride returned to a horizontal position, its limit switch failed, and the ride continued to spin for about 10 minutes. An investigation revealed that staff failed to hit the emergency stop due to a miscommunication. Four children were on the ride and felt ill after the extended period of spinning. They were taken to the hospital but did not have to be admitted. A fail-safe was added to automatically stop the ride.
194.
- Year: 2009
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: Xcelerator
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Kyle Wheeler, 12, and his dad, Russell, were riding in the front row of the high-speed Xcelerator ride when a component broke, causing serious injuries. The Xcelerator is famous for launching passengers at 82 mph. But on this occasion, the launch cable snapped and sliced through Kyle’s leg. He underwent several surgeries and physical therapy before he was able to walk again. His dad also suffered back and neck pain after the accident. Investigators found that the ride had not been properly maintained, and a scheduled inspection of the cable was 19 days late at the time of the incident. A confidential settlement was agreed upon between the family and the park.
195.
- Year: 2009
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: Son of Beast
- Result: Potential injury
- What Happened: A woman claimed that she had suffered a burst blood vessel in her brain due to the force of the Son of Beast ride. However, doubts were cast over the claims because no injuries were reported to the park’s first-aid station, and no other riders reported any issues. While an investigation revealed no technical issues with the ride, it remained closed for the rest of the 2009 season. In 2012, park bosses decided that the closure would be permanent.
196.
- Year: 2009
- Amusement Park: Water World
- Location: Federal Heights, Colorado
- Ride: Captain Jack’s Wave Pool
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 48-year-old man named Mikhail Valov died in an apparent drowning. He was in the Captain Jack pool area – a half-million-gallon wave pool known for gentle waves – with his teenage son. At one point, the lifeguard became concerned when he spotted a man in the pool who was not moving. He was pulled out and found to be unresponsive, perishing despite efforts to revive him. It is unclear what caused the victim to lose consciousness and drown. It was the park’s first-ever drowning fatality and came in its 30th anniversary year.
197.
- Year: 2009
- Amusement Park: Star City
- Location: Pasay, Philippines
- Ride: Star Flyer
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A man died when he fell from the Star Flyer roller coaster in a mysterious accident. The ride was coming to a stop at the end of its run when the 39-year-old victim fell out of the coaster car as it approached the station, dropping nearly 50 feet to the ground below. Investigators said all harnesses were still locked electronically when the accident happened, and it is unclear how the victim came free.
198.
- Year: 2009
- Amusement Park: Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure
- Location: Bessemer, Alabama
- Ride: Wild River Gorge
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Four people were on the Wild River Gorge ride when their raft overturned. They were on a six-seater raft, secured by seatbelts, as they traveled through a series of rapids and waterfalls. But they were flipped over when they hit an empty raft that was stuck in the water. They were trapped underwater for about 20 seconds before escaping their restraints and climbing to safety.
199.
Spotlight
- Year: 2010
- Amusement Park: Extreme World
- Location: Lake Delton, Wisconsin
- Ride: Terminal Velocity
- Result: Serious injury
- What Happened: Teagan Marti, 12, survived a terrifying free-fall accident after ride operators did not follow their safety protocols. On vacation from Florida, the adventurous Teagan and her family visited Extreme World after seeing a feature about it on TV.
Terminal Velocity puts riders in a cage and lifts them 140 feet in the air before dropping them onto a safety net below. But on this occasion, the net did not activate, and the operator forgot to check that it had deployed before opening the trap door.
Teagan barely survived the fall but sustained brain, spine, pelvis, and internal injuries. The operator, Charles Carnell, had 17 years of experience working at the park. He was hit with felony charges for first-degree reckless injury. Carnell agreed to a plea deal and avoided jail time. New owners bought Extreme World from foreclosure in 2023 with the intention of reopening the park – but have no plans to reopen Terminal Velocity.
200.
- Year: 2010
- Amusement Park: Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin’
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Ride: Xtreme
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A woman fell from the spinning steel-track Xtreme roller coaster while it was in motion, plummeting 30 feet and sustaining fatal injuries. Lindsay Zeno, 21, fell when her lap bar restraint apparently malfunctioned or failed to lock properly, causing it to spring open. A team of independent investigators examined the ride but could not find a cause for the restraint malfunction. It had also passed an inspection the month before the accident.
201.
- Year: 2010
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: Pony Express
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The Pony Express roller coaster stalled on the opening lift hill incline and rolled back down, crashing into the next train at the station. Ten people aged 12-60 suffered neck and back injuries and were taken to local hospitals. An investigation found that the ride’s fin brakes had been painted over during a renovation, preventing them from engaging and stopping the train’s rollback motion. The coaster reopened 11 days later after the brakes had been fixed and new testing procedures had been implemented.
202.
- Year: 2010
- Amusement Park: Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks
- Location: Wildwood, New Jersey
- Ride: Zoom Phloom
- Result: Serious injury
- What Happened: A child suffered a serious head injury while riding the log flume ride on his own. It is believed that the accident was caused by a medical emergency. Reports say that the 10-year-old child had a suspected seizure, causing him to fall and hit his head while the ride was running. An emergency helicopter transported the child to the trauma unit at Cooper University Hospital. The Zoom Phloom ride was closed for the night, but reopened the following day after an inspection.
203.
- Year: 2010
- Amusement Park: Ocean Park
- Location: Aberdeen, Hong Kong
- Ride: Ocean Express
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The operator of the Ocean Express railway ride accidentally hit the emergency track brake system. The sudden stop caused several passengers to be thrown around inside the carriage. A 70-year-old man was taken to Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam with critical injuries, including significant facial damage. Six other people were also injured. The train was stalled about 100 meters from the station, and it was closed down until a switch protector was installed.
204.
- Year: 2010
- Amusement Park: Trimper Rides
- Location: Ocean City, Maryland
- Ride: Tidal Wave
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Three people were hurt when a cable broke on Tidal Wave – a popular double-loop boomerang roller coaster. The mechanical failure caused the ride’s safety brake to kick in, and two young passengers received whiplash-like injuries from the sudden stop. The other victim was hit by falling debris while waiting in line to get onto the ride.
205.
Spotlight
- Year: 2010
- Amusement Park: Overseas China Town (OCT) East – Knight Valley
- Location: Shenzhen, China
- Ride: Space Journey
- Result: Fatalities and injuries
- What Happened: A car on a space shuttle simulator ride fell 50 feet in a deadly accident that left six people dead. It is believed that one of the cabins on the elevated spinning force-based ride broke free while the ride was in motion. A support arm failed, and the car detached, crashing to the ground with four people onboard, all of whom died.
The car reportedly hit a control panel, sparking a fire within the enclosed ride building. Two more people died of smoke inhalation, and ten others were injured. Firefighters were forced to carry many people to safety past the car wreckage.
An investigation found that there may have been manufacturing issues involved with the accident. Each car on the ride weighed 5 tons, and manufacturers may have underestimated the weight they would need to support. The bolts securing the separated car were sheared off under the strain.
The ride had only been operating for about a month at the time of the accident, though it had been operational for about a year beforehand. It is unclear how much testing was done. While multiple parties were detained, it appears that Knight Valley took responsibility for the crash and compensated the victims.
206.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Galaxyland
- Location: Edmonton, Canada
- Ride: Galaxy Orbiter
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 47-year-old maintenance worker at the West Edmonton Mall, where Galaxyland is located, was struck by a Galaxy Orbiter roller coaster car. The victim reportedly stepped onto the track area to try to retrieve a rider’s lost hat. As the spinning roller coaster car came around, it hit the worker in the head, knocking him unconscious. He was taken to the University of Alberta Hospital in serious condition.
207.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Storybook Land
- Location: Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
- Ride: Big Truck Ride
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The Big Truck Ride derailed when its front cart popped off the track, causing it to overturn and land on its side. The three people inside, including a 19-month-old child and his grandmother, fell nearly three feet and were taken to the hospital for treatment. It is believed that a faulty component caused the crash, but park operators decided to remove the ride entirely.
208.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago
- Location: Gurnee, Illinois
- Ride: Wahoo Racer
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman sustained cuts and torn ligaments in her hands and wrist in a waterslide accident. Shatoya Meeks was injured in the massive Wahoo Racer slide, which features six separate enclosed slides emerging side by side. She was awarded $1.5 million in a lawsuit judgment when a jury decided that the operators were negligent and the park failed to adequately warn riders.
209.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks
- Location: Wildwood, New Jersey
- Ride: Sea Dragon
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Part of the Sea Dragon pirate ship ride collapsed while the ship was swinging back and forth with thrillseekers onboard. The steel central mast snapped mid-ride, crashing into some of the passengers. It hit 13-year-old Gia Mastroserio, who suffered injuries to her face, arm, and hands and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Four other riders were also treated for minor injuries at the park. Investigators found that the accident was probably caused by corrosion of the mast. A lawsuit was filed against the park, alleging that the ride manufacturer had previously warned the park to inspect or remove the pole.
210.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Camden Park
- Location: Huntington, West Virginia
- Ride: The Spider
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Three people (including two children) suffered injuries after one of the arms collapsed on the tilt-a-whirl Spider ride. The area was closed while emergency crews responded, and the victims were taken to Cabell Huntington Hospital. The ride was removed from the park after the accident.
211.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks
- Location: Wildwood, New Jersey
- Ride: Giant Wheel
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A young girl named Abiah Jones fell from the Ferris Wheel ride while she was on a school field trip. The 11-year-old was riding alone and reached about halfway up the ride’s full height – about five stories – when the accident happened. She fell from her seat, plummeting to the ground below and suffering fatal injuries. It is unclear how or why the fall happened, with no witnesses and no sign of anything unusual. Abiah’s parents sued the operators for failing to install restraints and provide proper safety guidance. The park increased the height requirement and added a two-rider minimum policy after the accident.
212.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Go Bananas
- Location: Norridge, Illinois
- Ride: Python Pit
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Young Jayson Dansby, aged just 3, crawled out from underneath the safety bar on the small-scale Python Pit coaster while it was in motion. He became wedged between two coaster cars before falling about four feet from the moving ride, suffering fatal head injuries. He was riding on the coaster with his twin brother at the time. The ride was closed for investigation, but no design or maintenance issues were found. It was ruled an accident by medical examiners, but the Dansby family and others on the ride at the time later filed lawsuits against the venue.
213.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Ride: Hi Miler
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A man fell nearly 30 feet from the Hi Miler roller coaster and later died from his injuries. Brian Greenhouse, 47, tumbled from the ride on the last day of the Houston Livestock Show event, suffering severe head and chest injuries that proved fatal. The victim was intoxicated at the time, but an investigation revealed that the pin holding the lap bar in place was only secured by a single screw, which was displaced in Brian’s car. Reports show that the bar opened at the crest of the hill, allowing him to fall out. The ride did not return to the event the following year, and a $2.7m settlement was eventually agreed upon with the victim’s family.
214.
- Year: 2011
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Darien Lake
- Location: Corfu, New York
- Ride: Ride of Steel
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: An army veteran was ejected from Ride of Steel and died instantly in a deadly fall from the ride’s second-largest hill. Sgt. James Hackemer, 29, was a double amputee after losing both his legs in an explosion in Iraq. Despite being trained on the ride’s rules, operators allowed Hackemer onto Ride of Steel without objection or warning. The victim did not know that the coaster was unsafe for people without leg support.
During the ride, the victim reached for his hat and lost his grip on the restraint bar. Without leg support, the lap bar could not secure him in place, and he fell from the coaster while it was moving at about 50 mph. The operator was found to have been negligent, and the amusement park agreed to a private settlement with the victim’s family.
215.
- Year: 2012
- Amusement Park: Rainbow’s End
- Location: Auckland, New Zealand
- Ride: Enchanted Forest Log Flume
- Result: Minor injuries
- What Happened: A woman got her leg jammed between a flume log and the wooden fencing at the side of the ride, sustaining minor injuries. Firefighters had to remove part of the fence to break her out. The victim was taken to the hospital by ambulance for treatment. The park was given the all-clear to remain open, but launched its own investigation into the accident.
216.
- Year: 2012
- Amusement Park: La Ronde
- Location: Montreal, Canada
- Ride: Le Vampire
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 35-year-old worker at La Ronde park was struck and killed by the Vampire roller coaster. He is understood to have entered a locked restricted zone to carry out maintenance on the ride. It is believed that a miscommunication or breakdown in protocol meant that the ride was not stopped at this time, and fatally struck the worker. He suffered catastrophic head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.
217.
- Year: 2012
- Amusement Park: Hopi Hari
- Location: São Paulo, Brazil
- Ride: La Tour Eiffel
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Gabriela Yukari Nichimura, 14, died after falling from her seat on the drop tower ride. The victim accidentally sat in a seat on the ride that had been out of use for several years and did not have an updated seatbelt. Her old restraint popped open when the ride was 20 feet in the air, causing the fatal fall. Three park employees were convicted of manslaughter. They were fined and sentenced to nearly three years of community service. The park also agreed to a settlement with the family and decided against reopening the ride.
218.
- Year: 2012
- Amusement Park: Trimper Rides
- Location: Ocean City, Maryland
- Ride: Hampton I
- Result: Critical injury
- What Happened: The accident occurred on a kiddie ride on which youngsters ride in small cars on a circular track. It was stopped to allow a child to get off, and another youngster – 2-year-old Jadyn Brewer – got out of his car because he thought the ride was over. The operator then restarted the ride without realizing that Jadyn was on the track. He was struck by one of the cars and hit his head against the cement floor. The child sustained a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury. A negligence lawsuit was later filed against the park.
219.
- Year: 2013
- Amusement Park: Conneaut Lake Park
- Location: Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Blue Streak
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Two women suffered facial injuries on the historic Blue Streak roller coaster. While exact details were not released, it is believed that the riders had ducked their heads down as it was raining at the time. When their car was jolted by a bump in the track, their faces hit the metal lap bar in front of them. One of the injured parties was taken to the hospital via ambulance, while the other followed in a private vehicle.
An inspection found no mechanical issues with the ride. However, one week earlier, the same coaster had broken down due to a braking issue. It left 20 passengers stranded for five hours before rescue crews brought them down using a narrow catwalk in wet conditions.
220.
Spotlight
- Year: 2013
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Over Texas
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Ride: New Texas Giant
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A woman fell from a roller coaster as it sped down a steep descent. She was killed by the fall. The 52-year-old victim, identified as Rose Ayala-Goana by the coroner’s office and Rosa Esparza by the family, was riding in the third row of the New Texas Giant coaster. But as it started its descent on the ride’s first large hill, she came loose and was thrown from her seat as the train banked through its first turn. She fell about 75 feet, striking a metal support beam and coming to rest on a tunnel roof. The fall was fatal, and her cause of death was reported as multiple traumatic injuries with extensive trauma of the torso.
It is believed that the restraint bar may not have locked due to the victim’s size. Operators had concerns when they checked the bar before launch, but the control panel showed that it was locked, and so the train was allowed to depart. Six Flags conducted an investigation into the incident. However, Texas law does not require a third-party investigation or demand that any results are made public.
The victim’s family filed a lawsuit against the park and the ride manufacturer, alleging that the restraints and sensors malfunctioned. The park and the manufacturer also both tried to deflect blame onto each other. Both parties eventually agreed to confidential settlements. The coaster reopened about two months later with safety upgrades.
221.
- Year: 2013
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Shoot the Rapids
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A boat on the water rapids ride malfunctioned and rolled backward down a lift hill before flipping over and trapping riders in the water. The boat overturned in waist-deep water with seven riders strapped inside, until park employees raced over to free them. One passenger was taken to the hospital, but none of the injuries were severe. The crash occurred when the safety system designed to prevent crafts from rolling backward failed to engage.
222.
- Year: 2013
- Amusement Park: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Ride: Sea Serpent
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 5-year-old boy named Pradipta Sutradhar was injured when he fell from the Sea Serpent kiddie coaster. The youngster was reportedly scared while on the ride and wriggled out from under his restraint bar to try to jump off mid-ride. He needed surgery after sustaining injuries to his head and leg, including a broken femur. An investigation showed that the lap bar was secured, and the boy was tall enough for the ride, but he was still able to squeeze out.
223.
- Year: 2013
- Amusement Park: Gillian’s Wonderland Pier
- Location: Ocean City, New Jersey
- Ride: Speedway
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 4-year-old girl was injured on the slow-moving children’s Speedway ride. It is unclear whether the girl was standing on the platform when the ride started, ran up to the ride while it was in motion, or was trying to get in or out of one of the cars on the oval circuit. Reports are conflicting, but she became trapped under one of the cars and sustained a leg injury. It was attributed to operator error, and the ride worker was fired.
224.
- Year: 2013
- Amusement Park: Silverwood Theme Park
- Location: Athol, Idaho
- Ride: Corkscrew
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A man was trying to get onto the Corkscrew roller coaster when he lost his footing and tumbled onto the track five feet below. The ride wasn’t moving at the time, and there was no malfunction, but an investigation looked into the boarding process that allowed such a fall. Rescuers climbed down and found the victim unconscious, and he was taken to a nearby hospital.
225.
- Year: 2014
- Amusement Park: Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park
- Location: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
- Ride: Opa
- Result: Serious injury
- What Happened: A faulty lap safety bar popped open on one of the Opa roller coaster’s spinning cars as it rounded a corner. The rider inside, Anthony Theisen, 63, was thrown from the car, falling 17 feet onto the concrete floor below. He suffered numerous fractures and a serious brain injury. He fell into a coma after the fall, though he later woke up and was able to recognize his family. The police report indicated that the lap bar on the victim’s seat appeared to have a stripped locking mechanism and came unlocked during testing after the accident.
An investigation found that the park was operating the ride above its maximum weight limit and was unaware of manufacturer bulletins regarding lap bar maintenance. Opa was permanently removed from the park following the accident. It is now part of a traveling carnival ride lineup.
226.
- Year: 2014
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Ninja
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A tree branch fell onto the track of the Ninja roller coaster, causing its front car to derail. The four people in the front car sustained injuries, including knee and neck pain. They were taken to the hospital as a precaution. The other riders were evacuated one by one by firefighters using a cherry picker platform in a two-hour rescue operation. Two of the injured passengers later filed a lawsuit against the park for neglect that caused undue danger on the ride.
227.
- Year: 2014
- Amusement Park: Magic Waters Waterpark (later renamed Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Rockford)
- Location: Cherry Valley, Illinois
- Ride: Splash Blaster
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A series of legal claims were filed against Rockford Park District, which operated Magic Waters at the time, over back and spinal injuries sustained by waterslide riders. At least seven lawsuits were filed in 2014 and 2015, specifically naming the Splash Blaster slide. Victims typically suffered compression fractures due to underinflated rafts.
228.
- Year: 2014
- Amusement Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Location: Buena Park, California
- Ride: Coast Rider
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 10-year-old boy’s leg became trapped between the coaster car and the platform, causing serious injuries. Carson Burrei started to step out onto the station platform after the ride stopped. But when the train rolled forward again, it trapped his foot and leg. A lawsuit filed by the family alleged that the accident fractured his foot, tore tendons, and caused nerve damage. He had several surgeries and was in a wheelchair for three months. The park made alterations to prevent similar accidents following the incident.
229.
- Year: 2014
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: Flight of Fear
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: An electrical malfunction caused the mechanics on an indoor roller coaster to start smoking. The building housing Flight of Fear started to fill with heavy smoke, with the source traced back to the ride’s electrical motor. Investigators found that the moor had overheated. The park shut off power to the ride, and firefighters ventilated the building. Several people were treated for smoke inhalation.
230.
- Year: 2014
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Skyhawk
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A cable came loose on one of the Skyhawk ride’s giant arms, whipping free and injuring two people. The thick flailing cable crashed through fencing and sparked as it hit the ground, according to witnesses. It also struck two people, one of whom was taken to the hospital. The ride was shut down immediately. It was reopened a week later after repairs and inspection.
231.
- Year: 2014
- Amusement Park: Royal Adelaide Show
- Location: Australia
- Ride: Airmaxx 360
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: An 8-year-old girl named Adelene Leong was thrown from the spinning Airmaxx ride and died from her injuries. Despite multiple checks of her restraints, Adelene came loose while the ride was spinning at full speed. She was eventually flung violently from the ride. An inquest revealed that event organizers should not have cleared the ride for use because they never received the required safety checklist from the ride’s operators. While the ride had been used without incident at two other recent events, investigations flagged design flaws and insufficient maintenance and safety systems. The show’s owners were fined $157,000.
232.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Beech Bend
- Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Ride: Jitterbug
- Result: Multiple injuries
- What Happened: At least 12 people were injured when a rotating swing ride toppled over and crashed onto its side. It is a children’s ride, and most of those injured were reportedly young riders. The Jitterbug had operated without incident for 15 years and had passed its annual inspection prior to the crash. Park management reported the accident to the state within an hour, and an investigation was launched.
233.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Raptor
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 45-year-old teacher was killed when he was hit by a roller coaster train. James Young’s phone and wallet fell from his pockets while he was riding the Raptor coaster. After finishing the ride, he jumped the 5.5-foot chain-link fence into a restricted area to collect his fallen belongings. But while he was in the out-of-bounds area, he was hit by a coaster vehicle and killed. Park management decided not to raise the fence height after the accident.
234.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Raptor
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Theron Danemiller, who was 37 at the time, suffered serious leg injuries just before boarding the Raptor roller coaster. He was on the ride’s loading platform when the mechanical entrance gate closed on him, trapping his leg. As he tried to pull himself free, the gate cut into his leg, exposing bone and muscle, and requiring stitches. A park spokesman accused the victim of trying to squeeze through the gate when it was already closing. But Danemiller, who had held a Cedar Point pass for 14 years, disputed the statement and criticized the park’s handling of the incident. A lawsuit was settled out of court.
235.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: California’s Great America
- Location: Santa Clara, California
- Ride: Flight Deck
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A park worker was seriously injured when they were struck by the coaster train as it returned to the station. A Flight Deck rider dropped their phone on the tracks at the station area, and the employee stepped onto the tracks to try to retrieve it. As the coaster train whipped back into the station, it struck the worker and dragged them for about 10 feet along the track, causing severe injuries. One of the riders also sustained a hand injury in the accident.
236.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Alton Towers
- Location: Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
- Ride: The Smiler
- Result: Severe injuries
- What Happened: A major accident occurred when a train loaded with passengers crashed into an empty test train. The empty train had stalled due to high winds, shutting down the ride. But engineers performed an override to get the ride working again, unaware that the extra train was stuck on the tracks. The crash occurred at full speed. Two people in the front car required leg amputations due to the severity of their injuries, and 14 others were hurt to varying degrees. The park was fined over $6.5 million, and the injured victims filed a lawsuit. The ride was reopened with improved safety measures one year later.
237.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Luna Park
- Location: Cap d’Agde, France
- Ride: Slingshot
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A slingshot ride launched and was bouncing up and down when one of the bungee lines snapped. The protective ball carrying two riders swung over and crashed into one of the side supports. The impact left one of the riders – a 24-year-old woman – with a broken leg. The other passenger only sustained bumps and bruises. The ride was closed, and park officials labeled the cause of the accident as “a manufacturer’s defect.”
238.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Wonderland Park
- Location: Amarillo, Texas
- Ride: Drop of Fear
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A rider on the free-fall Drop of Fear tower was struck in the head by a large piece of metal debris that fell from the ride. Eyewitnesses say something snapped within the ride, causing metal shrapnel to explode out. Victim Anna Prager, who was struck in the head, reported feeling dizzy and was diagnosed with a concussion.
239.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Castles N’ Coasters
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- Ride: Bumper Boats
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Jayden Wingler, 4, and his brother Lucas had just climbed into a circular bumper boat when it started to stall. The operator tried to restart the boat, but its gas tank exploded and caught fire. The brothers both suffered second-degree burns to their legs and feet before they were able to escape from the burning boat. They were treated at a specialist burn center.
240.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Castles N’ Coasters
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- Ride: Splash Down
- Result: Serious injury
- What Happened: A 12-year-old boy named Dominick Leal suffered serious injuries when he fell out of the log flume ride. The young victim, who lives less than a mile from the park, seemingly stood up, caught his foot, and fell from the log car. He suffered several gashes to his torso, as well as a traumatic brain injury. There was a dispute over the cause of the accident. The family said Dominick was shouting to the operator to stop the ride as they approached a 30-foot drop because passengers were sliding around inside the log car and felt unsafe. Park bosses said he panicked but would have been safe if he had stayed seated.
241.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Longshan Amusement Park
- Location: Wenzhou, China
- Ride: Scream
- Result: Fatalities and injuries
- What Happened: Just a short period into the park’s grand opening day, the Scream ride was in the middle of boarding when it suddenly started rotating. Five people were thrown from the ride. Three of them fell quickly and suffered relatively minor injuries. But two attempted to cling on and were thrown from the ride as it reached its cycle peak. They sustained severe trauma injuries in the fall and died.
Police quickly established that the park was operating illegally. Many of the rides were unlicensed, and the park did not have proper safety inspections or permits. The park was closed down just a few minutes after it opened, and the owner was arrested. The venue was demolished in 2018.
242.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: King Cobra
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman filed a lawsuit after an accident on the King Cobra waterslide. The accident happened in the Six Flags park’s Hurricane Harbor water park area. Tolyndra Pierre, aged 20, rode the slide with a friend on a double tube. She alleges that park staff did not tell her the slide was designed for single tube riders. Because the pair exceeded the weight limit, their tube did not stop as designed, slamming into the mouth of the snake. Pierre suffered a broken ankle in the accident, and the slide was later dismantled.
243.
- Year: 2015
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: El Diablo
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A girl was left hanging onto her harness after her safety restraints reportedly disengaged on the 7-story-tall El Diablo loop coaster. A lawsuit alleged that Rachel Alesiani was on the ride when her lap belt and over-the-shoulder harness failed, leaving her to cling tightly to her shoulder bar to stay in her seat. Her family alleged that she sustained shoulder, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sprains, as well as emotional and psychological shock. The result of the lawsuit was not made public.
244.
- Year: 2016
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: The Joker
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: The 4D Joker roller coaster with free-spinning seats opened in 2016, but soon saw its first accident. Michael Hyler was riding the coaster when his leg struck a bar attached to the ride. He sustained multiple fractures to his right foot and internal damage to his knee. He filed a lawsuit against the amusement park and the ride’s designers.
245.
- Year: 2016
- Amusement Park: Dreamworld
- Location: Queensland, Australia
- Ride: Thunder River Rapids
- Result: Multiple fatalities
- What Happened: Four people died when their circular raft flipped and crashed on top of them at Australia’s largest theme park. A pump malfunctioned near the end of the ride, causing a boat to stop due to the low water pressure. Victims Kate Goodchild, Cindy Low, Roozbeh Araghi, and Luke Dorsett were on the following raft. They crashed into the stationary boat, causing their vehicle to flip over and crush them. They died almost instantly, while two children survived the accident.
Dreamworld was shut down for six weeks after the crash, and the Thunder River Rapids ride was removed. After an in-depth investigation, park operators Ardent Leisure admitted culpability. The company was fined $2.5 million for breaching safety rules. Investigators found that the ride had not been fully assessed for over 30 years.
246.
- Year: 2016
- Amusement Park: Ocean Breeze Water Park
- Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Ride: The Trident
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman alleged that the inner tube that she was riding down the Trident water slide deflated and collapsed in on itself. The inflatable malfunction caused Izabela Tympel to hit her head, knocking her unconscious and leaving her with a concussion. She claims that she has suffered seizures following the accident and filed a lawsuit against the park, though there was a dispute over which holding company was responsible for the venue.
247.
Spotlight
- Year: 2016
- Amusement Park: Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City
- Location: Kansas City, Kansas
- Ride: Verrückt
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Verrückt was the world’s tallest (168 feet) and fastest water slide ride in the world when it opened in 2014. Its design was so extreme that it took several years of testing until it was deemed safe to open. But just two years later, a 10-year-old boy was decapitated while riding the slide.
The young victim, Caleb Schwab, was on a raft with two other riders. When the raft rose over the slide’s bottom bump, it went airborne and struck a metal support for the netting looping over the slide’s open top. The impact caused a catastrophic decapitation injury. The two women in the raft also suffered facial fractures.
Following the accident, an investigation found that there had been previous incidents involving airborne rafts, indicating it was a known danger. Criminal charges were filed against the park operators but were eventually dropped in 2019. However, an out-of-court civil settlement was agreed upon with the Schwab family. The slide never reopened, and the park itself was closed down after the 2018 season.
248.
- Year: 2016
- Amusement Park: Adventure World
- Location: Perth, Australia
- Ride: Sky Lift
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman fell nearly 10 feet from a Sky Lift chair as it started rising over the Adventure World Park. She reportedly ignored the instructions of operators and was working to secure her son on the chair lift when she fell from the seat and tumbled onto the grass bank below. Park staff and visitors rushed to provide first aid, and the woman was apparently responsive and not badly injured. Ride operators were able to reverse the Sky Lift to bring the child safely back to the station.
249.
- Year: 2016
- Amusement Park: Bay Beach Amusement Park
- Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Ride: Zippin Pippin
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: As the roller coaster train returned to the start point after a successful circuit, it failed to stop, crashing into an empty train at the platform at high speed. Three people inside the moving car – two park employees and a child – were taken to the hospital as a precaution. The Zippin Pippin was closed for a week for a thorough inspection. The ride was bought by Bay Beach in 2010. Before that, it was a top attraction at Libertyland in Memphis and was known to be one of Elvis Presley’s favorite rides.
250.
- Year: 2016
- Amusement Park: Lake Winnepesaukah (also known as Lake Winnie Amusement Park)
- Location: Rossville, Georgia
- Ride: Fly-O-Plane
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Two young boys were injured when they fell from their plane vehicle while the Fly-O-Plane ride was in motion. The two 9-year-old cousins were in the spinning ride, seated together in one of the tilting airplane cars. But they fell to the ground, with at least one of the boys suffering a broken leg, pelvis, and shoulder. The ride was closed down for a month for a full investigation.
251.
- Year: 2017
- Amusement Park: Adventure World
- Location: Perth, Australia
- Ride: The Kraken
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenage boy was on an inflatable raft on the Kraken funnel water slide when he was involved in a collision. The force of the crash threw him from his raft, resulting in a broken leg. Jeremy Herget and his brother were on their raft when another inflatable carrying four people crashed into them. The brothers were thrown out by the crash, and Jeremy broke his tibia. The Kraken is the longest, tallest, and steepest funnel slide in the world. It was closed for an inspection but was given the all-clear.
252.
- Year: 2017
- Amusement Park: Kings Dominion
- Location: Doswell, Virginia
- Ride: Tornado
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Christina Orebaugh and her husband were riding an inner tube down the Tornado water slide when their tube flipped over. As the raft flipped, Christina was sent flying and landed on her head and shoulder. She was knocked unconscious and broke her shoulder and collarbone, as well as suffering a concussion and a broken toe. Christina was pulled out of the water by her husband, but needed staples to close a deep head wound. The slide, which was in the park’s Soak City area, was removed the following year.
253.
- Year: 2017
- Amusement Park: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Location: Dorneyville, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Halloween Haunt
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenage girl fell and sustained an injury when she was scared by a cast member at a haunted mansion attraction. The girl had reportedly asked employees not to scare her. But one costumed employee approached from behind and shouted in her ear, causing her to fall and suffer unspecified injuries. The girl’s family filed a $150,000 lawsuit against the park, claiming the incident caused permanent and debilitating injuries, and that the park failed to tell the girl that it offered “No Boo” necklaces.
254.
- Year: 2017
- Amusement Park: The Wave
- Location: Dublin, California
- Ride: Emerald Plunge water slide
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Just 90 minutes into the grand opening of a new water park, a 10-year-old boy hydroplaned as he traveled down a water slide. It launched him over the raised sides, and he fell onto the concrete next to the ride. The boy was shaken and suffered scratches to his back. A lawsuit was settled by the slide manufacturers, and the ride was reopened a year later with new safety procedures and testing.
255.
Spotlight
- Year: 2017
- Amusement Park: Ohio State Fair
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Ride: Fire Ball
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: A row of seats snapped off the swinging and spinning Fire Ball ride in mid-air, sending several passengers flying. Tyler Jarrell, 18, fell 50 feet and died due to the severity of his injuries. Seven others were injured and hospitalized in critical condition, including Tyler’s girlfriend, Keziah Lewis, who has had over a dozen surgeries since the accident. Another 18-year-old woman fell into a coma.
The Ohio State Fair draws about one million visitors every year. This tragic accident happened on the first day of the fair in 2017, despite the rides being inspected that morning. Investigators later concluded that the accident was a result of excessive corrosion to a support beam. They found that water had been trapped in the hollow beam, significantly weakening it. A lawsuit eventually awarded $78 million to the survivors. Rides made by KMG – the Dutch manufacturer of Fire Ball – have been banned from the Fair since the accident, and Ohio created ‘Tyler’s Law’ to improve amusement ride oversight in the state.
256.
- Year: 2017
- Amusement Park: Ocean Park
- Location: Aberdeen, Hong Kong
- Ride: Buried Alive
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A man died after receiving a blow to the head in an attraction at Hong Kong’s largest amusement park’s Halloween festival. Mr. Cheung, 21, entered the Buried Alive haunted house but somehow wandered into a restricted area containing mechanical operations, where he reportedly struck his head against a prop coffin. He was found unconscious by staff about five minutes later and was rushed to the hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries. The attraction was closed following the accident.
257.
- Year: 2017
- Amusement Park: Worlds of Wonder
- Location: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Ride: Feedback
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: As the pendulum ride completed its first flip, a man’s shoulder harness opened, and he fell into the bushes below, allegedly hitting his head on a metal step on the way down. A fellow passenger described the incident on social media and said riders were left hanging for 45 minutes after the ride was shut down. The park refuted the severity of the incident and said no one was seriously injured.
258.
- Year: 2017
- Amusement Park: Chaohua Park
- Location: Chongqing, China
- Ride: Travel Through Space
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A teenage girl was thrown from the top-spin ride as it whipped through several quick rotations. The victim’s seatbelt broke, and the safety restraint bar was not closed tightly enough to secure her. Video footage shows her slipping out and clinging on, before falling at speed into a metal barrier. She died from her injuries at a nearby hospital. All of the large rides at the park were suspended pending an investigation, and park management agreed to a settlement with the girl’s family of about $127,000.
259.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Askari Amusement Park (now named Kashmir Park, also known as Askari Island of Fun)
- Location: Karachi, Pakistan
- Ride: Discovery
- Result: Fatality, injuries
- What Happened: A frisbee pendulum ride called Discovery was being operated on a trial basis when it broke apart mid-ride. It was reported that the circular gondola may have been overloaded at the time of the accident. The ride was about 40 feet in the air when the gondola broke off and fell to the ground. A 12-year-old girl named Kashaf Dukhtar was killed, and 25 others were injured. The park was closed for a full inspection.
260.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: Miss Adventure Falls
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A man was injured when his arm got caught in a ride conveyor belt mechanism. The accident occurred at the beginning of the water raft ride, where a long conveyor belt takes rafts up to the top of the water slide. Somehow, the 44-year-old got his arm stuck in the belt, and operators were unable to free him. Emergency services took him to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
261.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Six Flags St. Louis
- Location: Eureka, Missouri
- Ride: Typhoon Twister
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The Typhoon Twister was opened in June 2018. But it is believed to have been closed that same day after two people sustained injuries. Thomas Moore, 28, fell out of the raft as it went up a steep embankment and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Sondra Thornhill also suffered whiplash injuries after being thrown from her raft. The ride featured a 125-foot whirlpool, a vertical drop, and a wave wall. It reopened a week later.
262.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Kings Dominion
- Location: Doswell, Virginia
- Ride: Twisted Timbers
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman was struck in the forehead by a flying cell phone while on the Twisted Timbers roller coaster. Reann Mayfield saw the object hurtling toward her with no time to react. The impact left her with a heavily bleeding gash to the head that required several stitches. The phone belonged to another passenger on the coaster who forgot to zip up his pocket. He apologized after exiting the ride.
263.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Steel Vengeance
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A group of teenagers threw packets of hot sauce at the Steel Vengeance roller coaster as it passed. One of the unopened packets burst as it hit the train, exploding open and spraying the sauce over some of the riders. Several people reported injuries, including one woman who had to have her eyes flushed out. A 17-year-old boy was arrested, but the victims chose not to press charges.
264.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Taizhou Yuhuan Park
- Location: Zhejiang, China
- Ride: Ferris Wheel
- Result: Minor injuries
- What Happened: A 5-year-old boy was left dangling by his head from a Ferris Wheel carriage 138 feet in the air. The child was playing inside the carriage and squeezed his legs and torso through the bars on the carriage window. He would have fallen to his death, but his head got stuck in the bars, leaving the boy dangling by his neck outside the car. Operators slowed the ride to a safer speed and brought the boy straight down so they could free him.
265.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: World Waterpark
- Location: Edmonton, Canada
- Ride: Corkscrew
- Result: Serious injury
- What Happened: A woman lost her finger after she was injured on a water slide at a massive water park inside West Edmonton Mall. Claire Clark, 59, was at her granddaughter’s birthday party when she went on the enclosed Corkscrew slide. But as she pushed off, a ring on one of her fingers got caught on a piece of foam at the top of the slide. It caused a gruesome “degloving” injury, and a surgeon had to amputate most of the finger.
266.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Star City
- Location: Pasay, Philippines
- Ride: Giant Star Wheel
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A man fell from one of the gondolas on a 200-foot Ferris Wheel, plummeting to the ground and sustaining fatal injuries. The acrylic window panel had been ripped off the gondola, and the victim was seen falling by witnesses. It was a suspected suicide.
267.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Daytona Beach Boardwalk
- Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
- Ride: Sand Blaster
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Six people were seriously injured when the Sand Blaster roller coaster derailed. An investigation found that the coaster was going too quickly. Investigators also found rust on the tracks and issues with the seatbelts, as well as evidence of previously unreported derailments. The issues caused the lead car to leave the track, dangling in the air. Two riders were thrown out and fell about 34 feet to the ground, sustaining serious injuries. Others sustained lesser injuries in the accident. It is believed that several riders sought legal representation and won compensation, though no results were ever made public.
268.
- Year: 2018
- Amusement Park: Branson Mountain Adventure Park
- Location: Branson, Missouri
- Ride: Runaway Mountain Coaster
- Result: Minor injuries
- What Happened: Three people sustained minor injuries and were checked out at a nearby hospital after one cart crashed into another on the downhill Runaway Mountain Coaster track at a private event. Each cart has a handbrake to allow riders to slow themselves down, but the ride also has an overriding collision avoidance system that prevents crashes. It didn’t work on the day of the accident, but investigators couldn’t determine why and were unable to recreate the crash.
269.
- Year: 2018 and 2019
- Amusement Park: World Waterpark
- Location: Edmonton, Canada
- Ride: Soundwave Music Festival
- Result: Serious injuries
- What Happened: In 2018, six people were injured and taken to hospital – four of them in life-threatening conditions – after an accident at the Soundwave music festival held inside World Waterpark. Another three people were injured at the festival in 2019. But no details on the accidents and injuries were released. Officials said no details could be released due to privacy concerns.
270.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Adventuredome (formerly Grand Slam Canyon)
- Location: Circus Circus Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Ride: El Loco
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A double amputee was riding the steel roller coaster El Loco in the Circus Circus Adventuredome when she fell from the ride. The nature of her amputations was never released to the public, and it is unclear whether this factored into the accident, but she reportedly met the requirements for the ride. Following the accident, the operator guidance and safety restraints were updated.
271.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Queensland
- Location: Chembarambakkam, Chennai, India
- Ride: Free Fall Tower
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: The Free Fall Tower rises to a height of about 150 feet before plunging riders down and stopping before they reach the ground. However, on this occasion, a cable snapped, and the ride crashed down and hit the ground from a height of about 10 feet. About 12 of the 20 passengers on board sustained injuries in the fall, and the park covered all medical expenses. A clip of the accident went viral and came to the attention of the police, who launched an investigation. But by that point, the park had already closed the ride for repairs. It reopened after it was fixed and assessed.
272.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: The Joker
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A paraplegic man named Lester Davis was told by operators that it would be safe for him to ride The Joker. But the flips and twists on the coaster caused his unsecured legs to flail outside of the ride and crash against the restraint bar. It caused several leg fractures, including cracks to his femur. A negligence lawsuit was filed against the park because there were no visible or verbal warnings for paraplegic riders, despite the park’s accessibility guide specifically stating that riders must have two functioning legs, including the knee, to safely enjoy the ride.
273.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: Parachuter’s Perch
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman was injured on Parachuter’s Perch as she was waiting to exit the ride. Sharon Glass alleged that she was seated, ready to disembark, when a park worker raised the ride’s safety bar, and it hit her in the face. She sustained a fractured nose that required surgery, including moving some cartilage from her ear to her nose. She filed a lawsuit against the park.
274.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Darien Lake
- Location: Corfu, New York
- Ride: The Predator
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A man claimed that he sustained life-altering spinal injuries due to a broken headrest on The Predator. Adam Cassel, 36, was injured on the rough roller coaster, which tops out at a 95-foot elevation and a speed of about 50 mph. He sustained shoulder and spinal injuries after his headrest failed. In a lawsuit, his attorney said the ride operators had failed to notice and address the issue.
275.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: Adventure Express
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman claimed that she was injured by the “violent” movements of a roller coaster. Darian Young sued the park, saying that she suffered a cervical dissection that led to a stroke, causing permanent injuries. The lawsuit was settled out of court, and the terms were not disclosed.
276.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Frontier City
- Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Ride: Diamondback
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A father and son were struck by a tree branch while riding the Diamondback roller coaster, with the child sustaining severe injuries. A tree limb was lying across the tracks when Ryan Wilson and his 6-year-old son, Ben, were on the ride. It hit Ryan in the face and struck Ben with enough force to break his neck and cause brain trauma. His injuries required multiple surgeries. Concerns had been raised about the trees since 2016, and a specialist confirmed they could interfere with rides under certain conditions. A lawsuit was filed, and the case went to trial in October 2025.
277.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Carowinds
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Ride: Copperhead Strike
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A rider suffered a thumb injury on the Copperhead Strike roller coaster in its opening season. No information on the nature of the accident and injury was released, but the victim was transported to the hospital, and the double launch ride – the first of its kind at Carowinds – was immediately closed for an investigation. New parts were provided by the manufacturer, and it was reopened later that month.
278.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Yulong Shuiyun Water Amusement Park
- Location: Longjing, China
- Ride: Wave Pool
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: An electrical issue caused the machinery controlling the wave pool to malfunction. It generated far bigger waves than normal, eventually swelling into a tsunami-like wall of water that crashed into park-goers. In total, 44 tourists were injured in the swell, with some suffering broken bones. The pool was closed while the issue was fixed.
279.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
- Location: Lakeland, Florida
- Ride: Sky Rider Coaster
- Result: Critical injuries
- What Happened: A 10-year-old boy was at the park for a friend’s birthday when he dropped 25 feet from a zip line onto the concrete floor below. He suffered a collapsed lung and a brain injury, as well as several broken bones, and was airlifted to the hospital. Investigators believe that the zipline operator did not fully secure the boy’s harness. The family filed a lawsuit against the venue.
280.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Wonderla Park
- Location: Bengaluru, India
- Ride: The Hurricane
- Result: Minor injuries
- What Happened: Four people were injured when the spinning Hurricane ride suffered a power failure. It stopped midway through the ride and powered down toward the ground. Four of the people on the ride had their legs trapped against the ground and were rescued by operators. A video of the incident aftermath went viral on social media.
281.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Storybook Land
- Location: Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
- Ride: Out on a Limb
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A girl was riding on the spinning swing ride, Out on a Limb, when she somehow slipped out from under the safety restraint and fell onto the concrete surface below. She was treated by emergency services for “mild to moderate” injuries. The ride was closed for an inspection by state officials before reopening.
282.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Location: Ocean City, Maryland
- Ride: Wildcat
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: Five riders received hospital treatment after a minor crash on the Wildcat roller coaster. One of the coaster cars failed to stop as it approached the station, crashing into another car with passengers inside. An investigation was launched by state licensing authorities, and the ride was found mechanically sound to resume operations.
283.
Spotlight
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Kankaria Theme Park
- Location: Ahmedabad, India
- Ride: Discovery
- Result: Fatalities and injuries
- What Happened: A massive swinging pendulum ride broke in mid-air, causing a disastrous crash. As the pendulum swung across, the load-bearing shaft snapped, causing the support arm connecting the counterbalance and the passenger seats to break apart. The 31 passenger seats dropped to the ground from about 20 feet.
The force of the crash killed two people – Manali Rajvadi, 24, and Mohammed Zaid Momin, 22, who were near the point of impact with the ground. All of the other passengers – 29 others in total – were injured, including three who were hospitalized in critical condition.
Six park representatives were detained after the accident, with police pursuing charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The ride never reopened, but the park’s ownership was cleared to continue operations. However, the accident did encourage new safety regulations for theme parks in India, including new height limits and power thresholds.
284.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Kataplum
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
- Ride: Pendulum ride – name unknown
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A woman fell from a 360-degree spinning pendulum ride but managed to walk away relatively unscathed. As the small-scale ride tipped passengers upside down, it looked like one woman’s safety restraint failed. She fell out of her seat, hanging from a safety bar for a moment before dropping a few feet to the ground. As she did so, the descending gondola struck her, sending the woman sprawling across the base platform. A video captured the scary incident, and the woman appeared to get up and stand at the side of the attraction after the fall.
285.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Istiqlol
- Location: Jizzakh, Uzbekistan
- Ride: Flying saucer – name unknown
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: A 19-year-old girl was killed when the flying saucer ride that she was on broke apart in mid-air. As the spinning 360-degree swing rose to its peak height, its support arm snapped, sending the gondola plummeting to the ground from a height of about 23 feet. The teenage victim, who has not been named, died from the force of the impact, while seven others sustained injuries in the crash. The ride had only been installed at the park a few months earlier.
286.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: Carowinds
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Ride: WindSeeker
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A technician was inspecting the WindSeeker ride when he had his hand amputated by the attraction. The man was completing a scheduled check of the ride’s wire rope when the accident happened. A lawsuit against the park alleged that park employees had not been properly trained and had moved the wire at an unsafe speed during the inspection. This caused the victim’s hand to be yanked up into a pulley system and amputated. In two separate incidents in 2013 and 2015, riders were stranded on the WindSeeker ride for extended periods due to malfunctions, but no injuries were reported.
287.
- Year: 2019
- Amusement Park: La Feria de Chapultepec
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
- Ride: Quimera
- Result: Fatalities and injuries
- What Happened: Two men died, and two women sustained serious injuries when their coaster train derailed. The final car somehow separated from the rest of the train during the ride on Quimera, a 111-foot-tall triple-loop roller coaster. The car then left the track at high speed and fell 30 feet to the ground. As the car flipped on its way down, two men aged 18 and 21 hit their heads on metal supports, suffering fatal wounds. An investigation revealed mechanical defects and concluded that the park had been negligent in maintaining its rides properly.
288.
- Year: 2020
- Amusement Park: Lagoon Amusement Park
- Location: Farmington, Utah
- Ride: Wicked Roller Coaster
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A paraplegic man filed a lawsuit against Lagoon Amusement Park claiming that his foot was “shredded” by a roller coaster. Matthew Christensen visited the park with his family and was injured on the Wicked roller coaster. He was lifted into the front row of the coaster, and an attendant secured his lap and leg restraints. However, the lawsuit alleges that his leg restraints were not properly secured, and Matthew was not immediately aware of the issue due to his paraplegia. This allowed one of his feet to twist outward and get stuck between the platform and the moving car. The victim suffered damage to ligaments and fractures to his leg, foot, and toes.
289.
- Year: 2021
- Amusement Park: Disneyland
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Ride: Jungle Cruise
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A disabled woman fell and broke her leg while trying to exit the Jungle Cruise boat ride. Joanne Aguilar, 66, had a knee injury and was in a wheelchair when she visited Disneyland. She wanted to ride the Jungle Cruise, but the disabled-accessible boat was not operating that day, so she accepted help from staff to board one of the other boats. They added unsecured blocks to the steps to help her climb out at the end, but she lost her balance and fell.
She suffered an open leg fracture that became infected. Aguilar died five months later of septic shock. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the park, accusing the operators of laughing at the victim as she tried to disembark, in addition to negligence of safety standards.
290.
- Year: 2021
- Amusement Park: Funland
- Location: Rehoboth, Delaware
- Ride: Superflip 360 adjacent
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: An air storage tank malfunctioned, causing an explosion involving the pressurized container. The explosion sent debris flying into three teenagers who were standing nearby, close to the Superflip 360 ride. It is believed that the incident had nothing to do with the ride itself. One of the teens – a 16-year-old boy – was airlifted to the hospital with a serious head injury. Authorities said the tank failure may have been caused by environmental conditions.
291.
- Year: 2021
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Ride: The Joker
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A young boy suffered a cut to his head while riding The Joker. The child was hospitalized for treatment, but the park would not release any details about his condition or the cause of the accident. Park officials shut the ride down and checked it for any sharp edges, exposed bolts, or dangerous wear. But the ride passed its inspection and was returned to service.
292.
- Year: 2021
- Amusement Park: Cedar Point
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Ride: Top Thrill Dragster
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A metal bracket flew off the coaster train, striking a guest who was waiting in line for the ride on the head. The woman sustained a traumatic brain injury due to the force of the impact. An investigation revealed that several bolts securing the brackets had fractured and were now missing. The ride was closed down for a full investigation. Eventually, it was partially dismantled and redesigned, reopening in 2024 as a reimagined ride called Top Thrill 2.
293.
Spotlight
- Year: 2021
- Amusement Park: Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
- Location: Glenwood Springs, Colorado
- Ride: Haunted Mine Drop
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A 6-year-old girl named Wongel Estifanos died on a unique vertical drop ride in 2021. Riders are secured onto a bench using safety belts and then dropped 100 feet vertically underground into an old mine shaft. But Wongel’s belt was never properly buckled, and she fell out of her seat as the ride dropped, suffering fatal injuries.
According to an investigation, the girl was sitting on top of part of the seatbelt, and the operator did not ensure it was fastened. A warning alert on the computer informed the operator that there was an issue with the belt before the ride was launched, but they were unsure of how to respond, and so they dispatched the ride anyway.
The 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office decided against filing criminal charges. However, the family filed a civil lawsuit against the park, the ride manufacturer, and the ride operators for wrongful death.
The park denied liability throughout the case. However, a jury awarded the family $205 million in damages, including $123 million in punitive damages against the park owners, because the ride operators were not properly trained. In a statement, the park said the size of the judgment put its future at risk. The ride was closed after the accident, but later reopened as the Crystal Tower with a series of safety upgrades.
294.
- Year: 2021
- Amusement Park: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
- Location: Santa Claus, Indiana
- Ride: The Voyage
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: A woman was found unconscious and unresponsive on the wooden-track Voyage roller coaster when it returned to the station. Dawn Jankovic, 47, was treated at the scene and rushed to a nearby hospital, but died from her injuries. An autopsy revealed that she had suffered a torn artery caused by the normal force of the roller coaster ride, causing severe internal bleeding. An investigation found that the ride was operating as it should have been, and the death was ruled an accident.
295.
- Year: 2021
- Amusement Park: Gatlinburg
- Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Ride: Mountain Coaster
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A rider was launched out of their Mountain Coaster cart as it entered a curve. The unidentified victim was thrown about 10 feet and was hospitalized with head, wrist, and ankle injuries. It is believed that a lap seat belt failure caused the accident, but investigators could not replicate the issue. After a temporary shutdown, the ride was cleared to reopen by authorities.
296.
- Year: 2022
- Amusement Park: Santa’s Village
- Location: Jefferson, New Hampshire
- Ride: Poogee Penguins Spin Out Coaster
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: The operator stepped onto the ride track and was struck by the Pogee Penguins coaster train. The 51-year-old fell about eight feet to the ground and was taken to the hospital. Park bosses were unsure why the operator was in an unusual position while the ride was operational.
297.
Spotlight
- Year: 2022
- Amusement Park: ICON Park
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: Orlando FreeFall
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Tyre Sampson, 14, was visiting Icon Park with friends and family when he fell to his death on the massive Orlando Freefall ride. Described as the world’s tallest freestanding drop tower, the ride raises passengers to over 400 feet in the air, tilts their seats 30 degrees toward the ground, then plunges them down.
Tyre was over 6 ft and weighed 383 pounds when he rode FreeFall. The ride manual lists a weight limit of 287 pounds, but it is alleged that this was not advertised anywhere and that operators did not turn Tyre away. His over-the-top shoulder harness was not pulled down all the way, allowing the teen to take a seat in the ride. As the gondola dropped, Tyre slipped through the gap between the seat and the harness under the 4G forces and fell to his death.
A lawsuit filed by the family alleged extreme negligence. It said the ride operators were not properly trained, and the main operator that day was a trainee who had been on the job for only 3 days. A jury awarded the family $300m, and the ride was permanently closed and dismantled after the accident.
298.
- Year: 2022
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: X2
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Christopher Hawley, 22, collapsed just after getting off the X2 ride. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but died the following day from massive head and brain damage. Medical examiners listed the cause of death as blunt head trauma. He was on the 80-mph ride with his younger brother, who said that at one point, the ride came to a sudden halt, which slammed their heads back. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the amusement park in 2025.
299.
- Year: 2022
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Twisted Colossus
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: An 8-year-old girl named Evie Evans was struck in the face by a cell phone while riding the Twisted Colossus. The phone flew out of another rider’s hand and struck Evie in the forehead, leaving a large gash that was bleeding profusely. She was taken to the hospital and required 10 stitches to close the wound, as well as a CT scan.
300.
- Year: 2022
- Amusement Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Location: Valencia, California
- Ride: Wonder Woman: Flight of Courage
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: Kaiya Kriesberg, aged 9, was riding on her first large roller coaster when she was struck in the head by a flying phone. The youngster saw the phone flying toward her a split second before it hit her, leaving a large cut, a lot of blood, and a permanent scar. Her parents said it could have been a lot worse and called for legislation making it illegal to hold cell phones on fast-moving rides.
301.
- Year: 2023
- Amusement Park: Birch Bay Waterslides
- Location: Birch Bay, Washington
- Ride: Hairpin waterslide
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A 43-year-old man was launched down Hairpin, one of the park’s four main slides. But as the man reached the fourth turn, his leg went through the fiberglass splash guard wall, leaving a 1.5×4 ft hole in the slide. The victim suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot. Park staff applied tourniquets to his legs, and he was rushed to a nearby ICU for surgery. The park was closed, and investigators found that it was missing records of inspections and repairs. It eventually reopened under new management in 2025, but Hairpin was marked for removal.
302.
Spotlight
- Year: 2023
- Amusement Park: Gröna Lund
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- Ride: Jetline
- Result: Fatality and injuries
- What Happened: Fourteen people were on the Jetline roller coaster when a support arm under one of the cars broke, causing the train to bounce against the track and derail. The lap bars failed, and three riders were flung from the train in the crash. One woman in her 30s died, while ten others sustained serious injuries.
An investigation revealed that cracks in wheel control arms had been flagged and repaired several times in the past. Replacement arms were ordered in 2019 and 2023 from a third-party company, as the original ride manufacturer was no longer in business, but much of the work was further subcontracted. It was one of the newer arms that failed in 2023. The failure was due to poor welding and the lack of a backing bar in the arm structure.
A trial against Gröna Lund and two other companies began in November 2025. It is ongoing at the time of writing. Findings revealed that the park had followed all rules and regulations in completing regular maintenance and testing, commissioning replacement parts, and rejecting new parts considered to be substandard. Following the crash, park bosses implemented new safety criteria and a verification plan for all new parts.
303.
- Year: 2024
- Amusement Park: Kings Island
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Ride: Banshee
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Arntanaro Nelson, 38, entered a restricted area to try to retrieve his keys after losing them on the Banshee roller coaster. While doing so, he was struck by the ride as it passed the area. He suffered blunt force trauma to his head and body, as well as a traumatic brain injury. The victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition but later died. The Banshee was closed for examination but reopened three days later after it was cleared by investigators.
304.
- Year: 2024
- Amusement Park: Waldameer & Water World
- Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
- Ride: Flying Swings
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: As the flying swings were brought to a stop, the ride malfunctioned and did not slow down. Riders continued to spin as the ride lowered, causing five people to hit their legs against the surrounding fencing. One person was taken to the hospital, and the ride was suspended until it could be inspected.
305.
- Year: 2024
- Amusement Park: Canada’s Wonderland
- Location: Vaughan, Ontario
- Ride: Swing of the Century
- Result: Injury
- What Happened: A teenage girl was rushed to a trauma center after falling 20-30 feet from her swing seat. The 17-year-old suffered serious injuries after falling from the wave swinger carousel ride. Police attended the scene but concluded that park negligence was not a factor. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority agreed and soon cleared the ride to continue operations, suggesting that the accident may have been the result of rider misuse.
306.
- Year: 2025
- Amusement Park: Universal Epic Universe
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Ride: Stardust Racers
- Result: Fatality
- What Happened: Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries on the 60 mph Stardust Racers roller coaster. The victim was found to be unconscious and unresponsive when the train returned to the station. He suffered blows to the head and lacerations and was believed to have been unconscious for most of the ride. But it is unclear how those injuries occurred. Kevin, aged 32, was a wheelchair user with a spine condition, but lived an active life. Investigators said there was no malfunction with the ride. The death was ruled an accident, but the investigative process was ongoing at the time of writing.
307.
- Year: 2025
- Amusement Park: Green Mountain Park
- Location: Taif, Saudi Arabia
- Ride: 360 Big Pendulum
- Result: Injuries
- What Happened: A massive fairground pendulum ride buckled and broke apart as it swung through the air, causing the gondola to crash down onto the ground. At least 23 people were injured, including three with critical injuries. The Green Mountain Park resort was immediately closed pending an investigation into the breakdown.
Other Incidents
Those listed above are solely the accidents involving injuries and fatalities related specifically to rides. We also came across many other accidents that involved near misses and ride breakdowns with no injuries. In many cases, riders were left stranded for hours before being rescued.
We also came across many other incidents at amusement parks that did not specifically involve rides. These included:
- Medical emergencies.
- Drownings.
- Visitors struck by vehicles in the park and hotel parking lots.
- Chemical leaks.
- Building fires.
- Fights and riots inside amusement parks.
When you include all these other types of incidents, in addition to ride-based amusement park accidents, the numbers are enormous. With venues that attract so many visitors every year, that is unsurprising.
Amusement Park Accidents: By the Numbers
The graphs below show the incidents we highlighted, sorted by decade and region.
While this is helpful to see general trends, we know that our list of accidents is not exhaustive. For example, many more accidents happened in the 1980s and simply went unreported. This was an era when lawsuits were less prevalent, social media did not exist, there was much less scrutiny, and reporting was more sporadic.
It makes sense that the numbers have been rising steadily in recent decades. While rides are safer than ever, the number of park visitors is rising, and almost every incident is now reported. Please note that the 2020s numbers will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Location
The amount of information available about specific accidents can also be restricted by where they happened. Some states have stricter rules about investigating accidents and releasing reports on those investigations.
More international incidents have also made headlines in recent years. That could be because there are now more amusement park venues opening up in other countries. It could also be the case that there have always been amusement park accidents and injuries in other countries, but they were not widely reported in the U.S.
The rise of social media means that most incidents are now captured on video or posted about within seconds, no matter where in the world they happen.
Within the U.S., California leads the way in terms of amusement park accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities. The top five are:
- California – 49
- New Jersey – 30
- Ohio – 27
- New York – 22
- Pennsylvania – 20
We found 44 incidents reported in other countries combined, and most of those were reported in the last two decades.
Causes of the Amusement Ride Accidents
The following graph shows the breakdown of amusement park accident causes, presented in percentages.
Some of the accidents we covered can fall into multiple categories. However, this graph gives a strong representation of how many amusement park accidents occur.
- Malfunctions: 52%
- Rider Actions: 18%
- Operator Error: 15%
- Purely Accidental: 4%
- Stepping into a Restricted Area: 4%
- General Park Negligence: 3%
- Medical Complications: 3%
- Outside Influence: 1%
The vast majority of accidents are a result of malfunctions. This can include technical glitches, hardware and software failures, a lack of maintenance, poor design, and subpar restraints.
Contact Us For Help With an Amusement Park Accident Legal Case
Bisnar Chase is a top-rated personal injury law firm based in California, with a 99% success rate and over $1 billion in recoveries for our clients. We handle all kinds of cases, including premises liability and amusement park accidents resulting in physical injuries and wrongful death. Contact us for a free consultation if you have a case.
Brian Chase
Articles, blogs, and content have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $1B for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College, and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.
Serving California Since 1978
Bisnar Chase is a top-rated personal injury law firm with a national reputation. The firm has been in business since 1978 and has represented thousands of clients. Based in Newport Beach and with offices across California, Bisnar Chase has recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, emphasizing superior client representation above all.
