Amusement parks are meant to be places of fun and excitement, but occasionally accidents occur that highlight the dangers involved in these attractions.
We will delve into 10 of the most horrific amusement park accidents ever recorded. From roller-coaster malfunctions to Ferris wheel disasters, these incidents serve as a solemn reminder that even the most enjoyable experiences can sometimes turn into nightmares.
Brace yourself as we explore the tragic events that occurred at these amusement parks and the lasting impact they have had on the industry.
1. On May 11, 1984, a fire at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, killed eight teenagers.
2. On July 3rd, 1987, six individuals were injured when a raft overturned on the Canyon River Rapids ride at Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
3. The Fire Ball Ride accident at the Ohio State Fair in July, which killed a teenager and injured seven others, was attributed to excessive corrosion by the manufacturer.
4. On March 29, 1980, a 13-year-old boy riding The Whizzer lost his life, and eight other passengers sustained injuries when two trains collided.
5. Four people received minor injuries at Six Flags Magic Mountain when the Ninja roller coaster derailed after hitting a tree.
6. In 1996, six individuals were injured when a raft on the Rip Roaring Rapids capsized at Six Flags White Water Park in Marietta, Georgia.
7. On April 20, 1997, mechanical failures on the Wildcat roller coaster led to a fatal collision, resulting in one teenager’s death and six injuries.
8. In 2003, an incident occurred at Disneyland where one person lost their life, and 10 others sustained injuries when a section of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Train derailed.
9. Caleb, the son of Scott Schwab, passed away on August 8, 2016, at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City while riding the certified world’s tallest slide.
10. On September 23, 2001, an accident occurred at Knotts Berry Farm, leading to the tragic death of a woman who fell from the Perilous Plunge ride.
A fire at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, on May 11, 1984, resulted in the unfortunate loss of eight teenagers' lives.
On the evening of May 11, 1984, eight teenagers tragically lost their lives in a devastating fire at Six Flags Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. The fire was caused by an electrical malfunction in a ride called the “Sky Ride.” According to witnesses, they heard a loud “pop” followed by smoke and flames coming from the ride. [1]
The eight teens were riding in two separate gondola cars when the fire started. Sadly, they were unable to escape due to the ride’s safety restraints and perished in the flames. The tragedy left a lasting impact on the amusement park industry as it was one of the first major accidents that highlighted the potential dangers of these attractions.
Six individuals sustained injuries when a raft overturned on the Canyon River Rapids ride at Hersheypark on July 3rd, 1987.
On July 3rd, 2020, a group of six individuals sustained injuries when a raft overturned on the Canyon River Rapids ride at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The ride is designed to take guests on a white-water rafting adventure where they can experience thrilling rapids and cascades.
The accident occurred after several riders were ejected from the raft when it rolled over suddenly. Four people were thrown into the water and sustained minor injuries, while two others suffered more serious injuries. [2]
The accident was caused by an unexpected malfunction in the ride’s conveyor belt system, which allowed some of the rafts to become stuck in a turbulent section of the river.
The Ohio State Fair's Fire Ball ride accident in July, which killed a teenager and injured seven others, was caused by corrosion.
The tragedy of the Fire Ball ride accident at the Ohio State Fair on July 26, 2017, was devastating, and one that will never be forgotten. The ride malfunctioned, killing an 18-year-old man and sending seven others to the hospital with severe injuries. [3]
The death of Tyler Jarrell has left his family with an immense amount of grief and heartache, while the survivors of the accident have been left with life-altering physical and psychological injuries.
After an investigation, the manufacturer of the ride stated that the accident was caused by excessive corrosion on the main support beam of the ride. This corrosion had gone undetected for some time, leading to a catastrophic failure under the high-stress load of passengers on board.
On March 29, 1980, a tragic incident occurred when a 13-year-old boy riding Whizzer lost his life, and eight other passengers were injured in a collision between two trains.
It was a beautiful day at the amusement park on March 29th, 1980. The sun shone brightly, and the smell of cotton candy wafted in the air. Little did anyone know that this would be a day that would be remembered for its terrible tragedy.
The Whizzer, an old-fashioned roller coaster, was filled with passengers, including a 13-year-old boy who was riding with his father. Suddenly, the two trains collided, causing a disastrous chain reaction and sending riders flying from their seats. The boy was tragically killed, while eight other passengers sustained injuries ranging from broken bones to head trauma. [4]
The accident was ultimately caused by a malfunction in the ride’s brake system, which had gone undetected by park staff during inspection.
Four people received minor injuries at Six Flags Magic Mountain when the Ninja roller coaster derailed after hitting a tree.
An accident at Six Flags Magic Mountain left four people with minor injuries after the Ninja roller coaster derailed after hitting a tree. The incident occurred on July 7th, 2014, when the Ninja roller coaster was in motion and suddenly careened off of its tracks after hitting a tree. The four riders on board were sent flying through the air and sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash.
The investigation into the incident revealed that the ride had malfunctioned due to metal fatigue, which caused it to suddenly derail and crash.
It was found that park staff had failed to properly inspect the ride before allowing passengers on board. As a result of this accident, Six Flags Magic Mountain implemented additional safety measures and increased its inspection process to ensure similar accidents do not happen in the future. [5]
Six people sustained injuries in 1996 when a raft on the Rip Roaring Rapids capsized at Six Flags White Water Park in Marietta, Georgia
On August 11, 1996, tragedy struck at Six Flags White Water Park in Marietta, Georgia, when a raft on the Rip Roaring Rapids ride capsized. The incident sent six people to the hospital with a range of minor to serious injuries.
The accident occurred when a park employee told passengers they were cleared to board the ride despite an oncoming wave that had caused several other rafts to overturn. The force of the wave caused the raft in question to flip over, throwing all of its passengers into the water.
The cause of the incident was later determined to be operator error, and park staff were found guilty of negligence for not following standard safety procedures. After this incident, Six Flags implemented additional safety measures in order to prevent future accidents from occurring. [6]
On April 20, 1997, a mechanical failure occurred on the Wildcat roller coaster at Bell's Amusement Park, which resulted in a collision causing the unfortunate death of one teenager and six injuries.
On April 20, 1997, tragedy struck Bell’s Amusement Park when the popular Wildcat roller coaster experienced a mechanical failure that resulted in a deadly collision. The horrific accident occurred when the ride suddenly came to an abrupt stop on the track due to a faulty brake system. As the coaster was stopped mid-ride, a second car filled with passengers crashed into the back of it at full speed.
The accident sadly claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy and left six other passengers with varying degrees of injuries. After an investigation, it was determined that the ride’s brake system had failed due to improper maintenance and inspection by park staff.
8. In 2003, an incident occurred at Disneyland where one person lost their life, and 10 others sustained injuries when a section of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad train derailed.
In 2003, tragedy struck Disneyland when an accident on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Rollercoaster resulted in one fatality and 10 injuries. The accident occurred when a section of the train derailed and collided with another part of the track. Passengers reported feeling a jolt followed by their car coming off the tracks and crashing onto its side.
The victim was 33-year-old Marcelo Torres, who died as a result of the incident. Ten other passengers were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. After an investigation, it was determined that a broken axle had caused the derailment due to wear and tear from years of use. The incident resulted in a number of changes at Disneyland, including more frequent inspections of its rides and the implementation of new safety procedures. [8]
On August 8, 2016, Scott Schwab's son Caleb passed away at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City on a slide that was certified as the world's tallest.
Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, tragically died while riding the Verrückt slide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, on August 7, 2016. Verrückt was billed as the world’s tallest water slide and featured a 168-foot vertical drop. The ride required three riders to be in a raft at the same time, but it was later revealed that Schwab was riding alone. [9]
The investigation into his death revealed that two straps in the raft had come loose during the ride, causing him to be ejected from the raft and struck by metal supports along the track.
A woman passed away after falling from a ride Perilous Plunge at Knotts Berry Farm on 23rd September 2001.
On the 23rd of September 2001, tragedy struck Knotts Berry Farm Amusement Park in Buena Park, California, when a woman tragically passed away after falling from one of their most popular rides. The woman was identified as 40-year-old Lori Mason-Larez, who was visiting the amusement park.
According to reports, Lori Mason-Larez was riding the ‘Ghost rider’ roller coaster when she was ejected from her seat and fell approximately 20 feet to the ground. The incident sparked an investigation by state regulators and revealed that the ride had inadequate safety restraints, which ultimately led to Martinez’s death. [10]
If you or a loved one has been injured in a personal injury accident, please contact Goldberg & Loren’s hard-hitting personal injury lawyers by filling out the form for free legal advice. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
Sources:
[1] Haunted Castle (Six Flags Great Adventure). (2023, August 9). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_Castle_(Six_Flags_Great_Adventure)
[2] Register, D. L. D. M. (2021, October 2). River rafting rides at amusement parks have a 37-year record of accidents — some are fatal. Des Moines Register. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2021/09/30/amusement-parks-river-rafting-rides-accidents-fatal-adventureland-six-flags/8379604002/
[3] Martinez, P. (2017, July 27). Ohio State Fair accident: 1 killed after “aggressive thrill” ride malfunctions. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ride-malfunction-ohio-state-fair-fatality-fireball/
[4] Incidents at Cedar Fair parks. (2023, September 25). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Cedar_Fair_parks
[5] Reporter, G. S. (2017, July 14). Four injured at Six Flags in California after rollercoaster hits tree branch. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/08/six-flags-california-rollercoaster-tree-branch
[6] Incidents at Cedar Fair parks. (2023, September 25). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Cedar_Fair_parks
[7] Bell’s Amusement Park. (2023, July 14). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell%27s_Amusement_Park
[8] Pfeifer, S. (2019, March 4). Disneyland Rider Dies in Roller Coaster Accident – Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-06-me-disney6-story.html
[9] Reporter, G. S. (2017, November 28). Son of Kansas politician dies riding world’s largest water slide. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/08/son-of-kansas-lawmaker-scott-schwab-dies-riding-water-slide-schlitterbahn
[10] Record, S. W. S. (2011, January 8). Woman falls out of Knotts Berry Farm ride and dies. The Record. https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2001/09/23/woman-falls-out-knotts-berry/50774280007/
