7 replies to this topic

[Old_Hag]

Terrible day for Cedar Point, Six Flags over Texas, and the amusement industry in general.

Boat rolls back, flips over on Shoot the Rapids:
Shoot the Rapids boat flips; riders injured | Sandusky Register

I can't imagine being underwater still locked in the restraints. Luckily, guests flipped the boat over before any deaths occurred.

Woman falls out of New Texas Giant:
Woman Falls From The Texas Giant To Her Death « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

I have absolutely no idea how Shoot the Rapids failed, but if TTD, Maverick, I305, and the original issues with STR weren't enough, this is the final straw for Intamin regarding their relationship with Cedar Fair. I suspect that the Texas Giant incident was another guest too large for the restraints, but all the details are still coming out and nothing is really certain at this point.


Any comments?

[Witting]

It has not yet reached the belgian news I will see how long it takes.

[Rollerfreak987]

I heard about what happened at SFOT, but I didn't hear about Shoot the Rapids at CP. Luckily no one was injured at CP

[BGTKing]

Strange how the two incidents occurred an hour apart. Certainly not good publicity, but rides are still much safer than driving to the parks.

[coasterdude1216]

I'm curious why some modern companies (such as Gerstlauer, who made the New Texas Giant trains) are electing to not put seatbelts on their train designs. Seatbelts have been used since the dawn of roller coasters and in conjunction with harnesses, they provide a fail-safe system, in which the rider would be restrained to the car if the harness breaks loose. Which is exactly what happened.

[Jogumpie]

Here's the reason you're looking for: ride capacity.

[Chubs33]

The woman who died on New Texas Giant was supposedly ejected going over the double up. She was also large set. I mention that because it most likely wasn't a restraint error, but an operator error. We all have seen the obese people being literally shoved into their seats until they get the thumb up, maybe the ride ops got hasty and then this tragedy happens. I really hope that is not the case, but that is what I am suspecting.

As for STR, I don't know what the hell that was about, haha. I don't even have a theory.

[DDRman732865]

I'm impressed with the guests who managed to flip the STR boat over. One small good thing about an otherwise bleak event.