fatal accident at Disneyland - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

John Falcon · 09-05-2003, 02:17 PM

It appears an accident at Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad claims one life and injures ten others.

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2459380/detail.html

Cynthetiq · 09-05-2003, 02:30 PM

my sister just called me from LA about this very story. Sad. My thoughts go out to the family. My first thought about safety is that there isn't an aggregated place for all park injuries. The theme park industry doesn't want people to think about injuries when they come to a themepark. They want them to think happy thoughts, spend money, and have a good time. How do we change that? How many people have died and because we don't know we cannot get the equivalent of the "stop sign" in the neighborhood?

for the click link challenged...

One Dies, 10 Injured On Disneyland Roller Coaster Ride
Police Investigate Park Fatality
POSTED: 12:29 p.m. PDT September 5, 2003
UPDATED: 2:31 p.m. PDT September 5, 2003

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A locomotive broke loose from a train on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster attraction Friday, killing a man and injuring 10 other riders, officials said.

The man died inside the ride and his body remained there for the investigation, said city spokesman John Nicoletti. No information about his identity was immediately released.

The injured ranged in ages from 9 to 47, he said. One had moderate injuries and the other cases were considered minor. Six were taken to the University of California Irvine Medical Center, two were taken to Western Medical Center and two were treated at the scene and released.

"On behalf of the entire cast of the Disneyland Resort we are shocked and saddened," said Cynthia Harris, president of Disneyland Resort.

The accident occurred inside a tunnel section of the ride, said police Sgt. Rick Martinez. What exactly happened was not known.

"At this point it appears to be a tragic accident," Martinez said.

The ride is designed to look like an old-fashion locomotive pulling cars, which can hold as many as 32 people. The ride operator is not aboard the train.

The accident was reported at 11:22 a.m., and firefighters arrived in two minutes, officials said.

The roller coaster takes amusement park visitors on a twisting, turning ride aboard what is supposed to be a runaway train in the Old West. Riders zoom through mineshafts and caverns, past falling rocks and tumbling waterfalls.

The ride is computer operated, said Joe Aguirre, a park spokesman. It opened in 1979 and is newer than the Space Mountain attraction, which opened in 1977, and Matterhorn Bobsleds, which debuted in 1959.

Anaheim fire and police and Disneyland officials reported to the scene to investigate.

sexymama · 09-05-2003, 02:35 PM

OMG - I just took my kids to Disneyland a month ago and rode this very ride. A-matter-of-fact, rollercoasters are our favorite. My heart goes out to the families!

John Falcon · 09-05-2003, 03:00 PM

My guess is that Disneyland spends as much on ride maintenance as they have on cosmetic maintenance...as little as possible.

<img src="http://members.aol.com/alweho/al081503pics/al081503e.jpg"></img>

Silvy · 09-05-2003, 03:08 PM

Man, I've been to disney land several times and that was certainly one of my favorites!

I feel for the family and wish them lots of strength.

I do wonder what the cause was though... Lack of maintenance?

DelayedReaction · 09-05-2003, 04:53 PM

Popular mechanics did a cover page article on whether or not thrill rides were deadly, and whether or not we had made them too fast and too deadly.

Their conclusion? Nope, things are fine.

Think about how old that thing is, and how many cycles it went through. Now add in the stresses of being in an outdoor environment, and what was probably imperfect maintenence. You can't stop every accident from occuring; you just do your best to learn from mistakes and ensure they don't happen again.

tinfoil · 09-05-2003, 05:05 PM

That's so sad. To die there, of all places.

Poor people / family.

Conclamo Ludus · 09-05-2003, 05:09 PM

Here is an interesting article from snopes.com on whether or not anyone can legally be declared dead at a Dinsey theme park.

Link

Macheath · 09-05-2003, 05:59 PM

If I want to know whether a ride's safe, I don't listen to the engineer who talks about it being safe in THEORY - I watch the accountant who decides they don't REALLY need to service the equipment EVERY week.

Of course a lot of the time I don't really listen to either. Who truly knows what's going to happen next anyway?

XenuHubbard · 09-05-2003, 07:13 PM

Disney will cover their asses. That is one dirty, dirty company.

santafe5000 · 09-05-2003, 09:09 PM

I suppose with the numbers of people that pass thru their Parks each year, there would eventually have to be a fatal accident. Just like getting struck by lightning, It's bound to happpen sometime. I do feel sorry for the family of the deceased and those that were injured.

Kyrin · 09-05-2003, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
The man died inside the ride...

Doesn't that kinda say it right there... how they going to get around that one? Shady practices aside, I'm sure it's a tragic moment for all involved.

bundy · 09-05-2003, 10:04 PM

thats such a shame.
poor people.
i´ve been to Disneyland twice and i love that roller coaster.
but i would have thought that Space Mountain would have been the one to break first.

i wonder if they quickly put that man into cryogenic deep freeze.

John Falcon · 09-05-2003, 10:32 PM

Space Mountain is out of commision until at least 2005.

So go to Flordia this year.

Mupwah · 09-06-2003, 06:19 AM

It will not stop me from riding in the future. What are the real chances of this happening when I'm on it. I probably have more chance being hurt driving.

Esoteric · 09-06-2003, 06:37 AM

Wow that is horrible, my condolences.

jeenyus_one · 09-06-2003, 07:46 AM

does the family of the deceased have a lawsuit against Disney land?

floonine · 09-06-2003, 08:37 AM

I hope there isn't a lawsuit. What happened appears to be an accident, and besides paying for medical and/or funeral expenses, I hope a lawsuit isn't opened.

This story isn't good for me, because I am extremely paranoid about rollercoasters because of this very reason. GUESS WHO ISN'T GOING ON ONE FOR A LONG TIME?

bernadette · 09-06-2003, 08:48 AM

kinda ruins their "happiest place on earth" ad campaign...

man. that's really sad.

holtmate · 09-06-2003, 09:22 AM

That is a horrible loss...

I will still be riding coasters every chance I get though.

World's King · 09-06-2003, 12:13 PM

Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth...

Watch for rolling heads.

Nimbletoe · 09-06-2003, 02:00 PM

I've never ridden a roller coaster, and things like these don't make me wanna hop in a car and get in one. Im not afraid of them, just never had the chance.

rosie21 · 09-06-2003, 04:25 PM

Hard8s · 09-06-2003, 04:50 PM

You can have the most perfect maintenance program in the world, and this could still happen. This is a mechanical device, and mechanical things, can and do break. All it takes is just one bolt to let go and Bam! Accident. I feel bad for the familys off all the injured and for the man killed. It makes you wonder what actually happened though. Was he thrown from the ride, did something hit him, did the train smash into a wall, what? I wish they would report the whole story.

EeOh1 · 09-06-2003, 05:57 PM

I agree, Hard. I'd like to know the whole story.

Space Mountin in Florida has always scared me. I feel like if I were 6 inches taller and put my hands up, they'd be sliced off by the rails.

I do love my roller coasters.

09-05-2003, 02:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
John Falcon Psycho Location: New York, CA	fatal accident at Disneyland It appears an accident at Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad claims one life and injures ten others. http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2459380/detail.html

09-05-2003, 02:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	my sister just called me from LA about this very story. Sad. My thoughts go out to the family. My first thought about safety is that there isn't an aggregated place for all park injuries. The theme park industry doesn't want people to think about injuries when they come to a themepark. They want them to think happy thoughts, spend money, and have a good time. How do we change that? How many people have died and because we don't know we cannot get the equivalent of the "stop sign" in the neighborhood? for the click link challenged... One Dies, 10 Injured On Disneyland Roller Coaster Ride Police Investigate Park Fatality POSTED: 12:29 p.m. PDT September 5, 2003 UPDATED: 2:31 p.m. PDT September 5, 2003 ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A locomotive broke loose from a train on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster attraction Friday, killing a man and injuring 10 other riders, officials said. The man died inside the ride and his body remained there for the investigation, said city spokesman John Nicoletti. No information about his identity was immediately released. The injured ranged in ages from 9 to 47, he said. One had moderate injuries and the other cases were considered minor. Six were taken to the University of California Irvine Medical Center, two were taken to Western Medical Center and two were treated at the scene and released. "On behalf of the entire cast of the Disneyland Resort we are shocked and saddened," said Cynthia Harris, president of Disneyland Resort. The accident occurred inside a tunnel section of the ride, said police Sgt. Rick Martinez. What exactly happened was not known. "At this point it appears to be a tragic accident," Martinez said. The ride is designed to look like an old-fashion locomotive pulling cars, which can hold as many as 32 people. The ride operator is not aboard the train. The accident was reported at 11:22 a.m., and firefighters arrived in two minutes, officials said. The roller coaster takes amusement park visitors on a twisting, turning ride aboard what is supposed to be a runaway train in the Old West. Riders zoom through mineshafts and caverns, past falling rocks and tumbling waterfalls. The ride is computer operated, said Joe Aguirre, a park spokesman. It opened in 1979 and is newer than the Space Mountain attraction, which opened in 1977, and Matterhorn Bobsleds, which debuted in 1959. Anaheim fire and police and Disneyland officials reported to the scene to investigate. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION! Last edited by Cynthetiq; 09-05-2003 at 02:36 PM..

09-05-2003, 02:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
sexymama My own person -- his by choice Location: Lebell's arms	OMG - I just took my kids to Disneyland a month ago and rode this very ride. A-matter-of-fact, rollercoasters are our favorite. My heart goes out to the families! __________________ If you can go deeply into lovemaking, the ego disappears. That is the beauty of lovemaking, that it is another source of a glimpse of god It's not about being perfect; it's about developing some skill at managing imperfection.

09-05-2003, 03:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
Silvy paranoid Location: The Netherlands	Man, I've been to disney land several times and that was certainly one of my favorites! I feel for the family and wish them lots of strength. I do wonder what the cause was though... Lack of maintenance? __________________ "Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints)

09-05-2003, 04:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
DelayedReaction BFG Builder Location: University of Maryland	Popular mechanics did a cover page article on whether or not thrill rides were deadly, and whether or not we had made them too fast and too deadly. Their conclusion? Nope, things are fine. Think about how old that thing is, and how many cycles it went through. Now add in the stresses of being in an outdoor environment, and what was probably imperfect maintenence. You can't stop every accident from occuring; you just do your best to learn from mistakes and ensure they don't happen again. __________________ If ignorance is bliss, you must be having an orgasm.

09-05-2003, 03:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
John Falcon Psycho Location: New York, CA	My guess is that Disneyland spends as much on ride maintenance as they have on cosmetic maintenance...as little as possible. <img src="http://members.aol.com/alweho/al081503pics/al081503e.jpg"></img>

09-05-2003, 05:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	That's so sad. To die there, of all places. Poor people / family. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

09-05-2003, 05:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	Here is an interesting article from snopes.com on whether or not anyone can legally be declared dead at a Dinsey theme park. Link __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

09-05-2003, 05:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Macheath Junkie Location: Sydney, Australia	If I want to know whether a ride's safe, I don't listen to the engineer who talks about it being safe in THEORY - I watch the accountant who decides they don't REALLY need to service the equipment EVERY week. Of course a lot of the time I don't really listen to either. Who truly knows what's going to happen next anyway?

09-05-2003, 07:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
XenuHubbard Cute and Cuddly Location: Teegeeack.	Disney will cover their asses. That is one dirty, dirty company. __________________ The above was written by a true prophet. Trust me. "What doesn't kill you, makes you bitter and paranoid". - SB2000

09-05-2003, 09:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
santafe5000 EVIL! Location: Southwest of nowhere	I suppose with the numbers of people that pass thru their Parks each year, there would eventually have to be a fatal accident. Just like getting struck by lightning, It's bound to happpen sometime. I do feel sorry for the family of the deceased and those that were injured. __________________ When all else fails, QUIT.

09-05-2003, 10:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	thats such a shame. poor people. i´ve been to Disneyland twice and i love that roller coaster. but i would have thought that Space Mountain would have been the one to break first. i wonder if they quickly put that man into cryogenic deep freeze. __________________ Ohayo!!!

09-05-2003, 10:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
John Falcon Psycho Location: New York, CA	Space Mountain is out of commision until at least 2005. So go to Flordia this year.

09-06-2003, 06:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mupwah Tilted Location: Rock Ridge	It will not stop me from riding in the future. What are the real chances of this happening when I'm on it. I probably have more chance being hurt driving. __________________ "Scuse me while I whip this out"

09-06-2003, 06:37 AM	#16 (permalink)
Esoteric Tired Location: Florida	Wow that is horrible, my condolences. __________________ From a head full of pressure rests the senses that I clutch Made a date with Divinity, but she wouldn't let me fuck I got touched by a hazy shaded, God help me change Caught a rush on the floor from the life in my veins

09-06-2003, 04:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
rosie21 Tilted	.. Last edited by rosie21; 05-21-2007 at 01:10 PM..

09-06-2003, 07:46 AM	#17 (permalink)
jeenyus_one Upright	does the family of the deceased have a lawsuit against Disney land? __________________ I can resist everything except temptation

09-06-2003, 08:37 AM	#18 (permalink)
floonine Insane Location: Silicon Valley, Utah	I hope there isn't a lawsuit. What happened appears to be an accident, and besides paying for medical and/or funeral expenses, I hope a lawsuit isn't opened. This story isn't good for me, because I am extremely paranoid about rollercoasters because of this very reason. GUESS WHO ISN'T GOING ON ONE FOR A LONG TIME? __________________ Political arguments do not exist, after all, for people to believe in them, rather they serve as a common, agreed-upon excuse. Foolish people who take them in earnest sooner or later discover inconsistencies in them, begin to protest and finish finally and infamously as heretics.

09-06-2003, 08:48 AM	#19 (permalink)
bernadette ::::::::::::::::::::::::: :. Location: this ain't kansas, toto	kinda ruins their "happiest place on earth" ad campaign... man. that's really sad. __________________ .:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

09-06-2003, 09:22 AM	#20 (permalink)
holtmate Flailing White Boy Location: Cincinnati	That is a horrible loss... I will still be riding coasters every chance I get though. __________________ "Give her your coat" "Why me?" "Because you're perfect." "You have a point there."

09-06-2003, 12:13 PM	#21 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth... Watch for rolling heads. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

09-06-2003, 02:00 PM	#22 (permalink)
Nimbletoe Junkie Location: Michigan	I've never ridden a roller coaster, and things like these don't make me wanna hop in a car and get in one. Im not afraid of them, just never had the chance.

09-06-2003, 04:50 PM	#24 (permalink)
Hard8s Addict Location: Wherever I am!	You can have the most perfect maintenance program in the world, and this could still happen. This is a mechanical device, and mechanical things, can and do break. All it takes is just one bolt to let go and Bam! Accident. I feel bad for the familys off all the injured and for the man killed. It makes you wonder what actually happened though. Was he thrown from the ride, did something hit him, did the train smash into a wall, what? I wish they would report the whole story. __________________ If ignorance is bliss, then wipe this smile off my face!

09-06-2003, 05:57 PM	#25 (permalink)
EeOh1 Crazy	I agree, Hard. I'd like to know the whole story. Space Mountin in Florida has always scared me. I feel like if I were 6 inches taller and put my hands up, they'd be sliced off by the rails. I do love my roller coasters. __________________ If life gives you lemons...throw them at someone.