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reg

Just read on Sreamscape that a boy has been decapitated at the park after the group he was with jumping a fence and entering an operating area of Batman The Ride (B&M Inverted coaster). Apparently, eye witness reports said he was actually jumping up to catch the feet of the riders on the train, when he was struck and killed.
While this is very shocking, and will no doubt have a lasting effect on the boys family, the people who saw it, and the park itself, it really does beggar belief that someone could be that foolish. Just what did he think would happen? You can't take on several tons of coaster train and riders and not come out worst off.
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coastergraham · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:09 pm Post subject:

This is really a shocking incident, such a waste of life and just horrible for his family.

Thank goodness everyone on the train escaped unhurt.
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USfriends · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:27 pm Post subject:

Not trying to be thoughtless of others but......
Sometimes the gene pool needs cleaning.

Pete
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Yankee Freeloader Pete

Rollback Queen Lisa

Magic · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject:

There was a simialr incident listed on Screamscape where a kid at a fun fair riding a drop tower grabbed hold of a ride attendant and pulled them up with it. Fortunately the ride op managed to hold on, with other riders grabbing his clothes, and he survived.

It's a sorry state of today's society that people think this kind of behaviour is clever and safe. I feel today people are so wrapped up in cotton wool that they can't recognise danger.

No one should lose their life like this and as Reg says sympathys go out to the family and witnesses who will no doubt take a long time to recover.
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Marcus
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frosty · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately I cannot remember which park or ride, but on the US trip a group of us were very surprised to see that from the public path, it looked like a tall person could almost reach up and touch the cross section braces that join the two tracks or the undercarriage of passing cars.

I know that you must be really stupid to do something like this, as you will lose fingers, a hand or an arm, but the metal fence stopped early and left this part of the ride exposed. It needed fencing off and not left like that.
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Steve
Member of 'non rollback' Stratacoaster club 06/08

Nimmykins · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject:

What a horrific experience for all involved.

When will people realise there are boundaries for a reason. Unfortunately some teenagers thing they're immortal.
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Sarah
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reg · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

Update on this story is that he was 17 years old, and actually climbed a 6 foot wrought iron fence from the parking lot next to the ride area, and then over another 6 foot chain link fence round the ride operating area. Reasons for why he did this vary from he was trying to impress his girlfriend, to trying to retrieve a lost hat.

There were no injuries to any of the riders, so its been assumed that they either saw him, and managed to lift their legs out of the way, or it was just blind luck that no one hit him. It seems he was hit by the train itself (consistent with him jumping up at it), and he was thrown into one of the support uprights, the impact of which decapitated him.

Six Flags closed the ride, but it is expected to re-open tomorrow (monday).
_________________
319 coasters: Steel 251 Wood 68
Park Count: 78
#1 Woodie - Shivering Timbers, Michigan Adv.
#1 Steel - Expedition Ge Force, Holiday Park.
First Public Ride on The Voyage!
Part of the TTD Roll Back club!!