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Verified Injury Accidents at Theme and Amusement Parks

These incidents have been reported and verified by Theme Park Insider's registered users. Please read our Accident Watch page for information on how and why we are collecting this information.

Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida
October 14, 2009
An employee fell from a ladder after the ride had closed for the evening, falling from the ride building's third story to its second. The worker was not believed to have suffered serious injury. -- Reported on October 15, 2009 by Robert Niles.


Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm
September 16, 2009
It happened today. I saw the Buena Park Fire Department working to get people out of the ride. We saw it from the high part of the Log Ride and had a hard time seeing it because Knott's roped off everywhere near the ride so park visitors could not see what was going on. Workers told me a cable broke and people got hurt but that is all they could tell me. -- Reported on September 16, 2009 by michael hogerhuis.

Follow-ups:

I was on the ride. the launch was smooth but as we went up the first hill we heard a weird spins like metal on metal. Then we saw all this smoke and someone said they saw sparks. the ride then lost speed and short shot rolling all the way back down but not into the station. Becausw we weren't back in the station our lap bars did not release and ride engineers were called in to release us. The kid in front of me had a gnarly gash on his leg and I coached his dad in controlling the bleeding before the medics arrived. ride attendants say that the catch car cable that launches the train frayed and broke striking the kid in The leg -- Reported on September 17, 2009 by Boyd Taylor.

Ride Video from the accident leaked onto YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn5yCeplHc4 -- Reported on September 18, 2009 by Domenik Jost.


Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios
August 17, 2009
Stunt performer Anislav Varbanov, 30, was fatally injured during a rehearsal for the " Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular." He was doing a tumbling roll after 7 p.m. when he was hurt. -- Reported on August 18, 2009 by Robert Niles.


Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
August 11, 2009
Three people were hospitalized and 18 treated at the scene when a train became stuck on Blackpool's Big Dipper and was struck from behind by a second train. -- Reported on August 12, 2009 by Robert Niles.


Firehawk at Kings Island
August 8, 2009
A male rider was having breathing problems when his train returned to the station. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died that evening. -- Reported on August 9, 2009 by Robert Niles.


Skyride at Busch Gardens Tampa
July 18, 2009
Maikon Bonani, 20, fell from the SkyRide while working as an attendant on the ride. He reportedly fell 35 feet and broke a bone in his back. -- Reported on July 18, 2009 by Robert Niles.

Follow-ups:

My girlfriend witnessed this with her children yesterday and sent me a photo on her phone. It was right in front of her, literally. It took over 20 minutes for the Busch Gardens medics to arrive and bystanders were trying to help in the mean time. She told the Busch Gardens people she would give a statement or testify to what she saw and they told her she needed to leave.I have the picture on my phone and would like to email it to you if you need it. -- Reported on July 19, 2009 by Amber Chancey.


Monorail at Walt Disney World
July 5, 2009
At 2 AM on 7/5/2009, two monorail trains collided at the TTC (Ticket and Transportation Center). One driver was killed. -- Reported on July 5, 2009 by Richard Steele.

Follow-ups:

As reported by www.screamscape.com here is the explanation of the incident from their sources Despite the reports from guests who were nearby when it happened, it seems that WDW Monorail accident happened completely backwards from how it was first envisioned. It was really Monorail Pink that was moving backwards into the station at maximum reverse power, which collided into Monorail Purple which is now thought to have been stationary at the time. So yes... the death of the pilot was actually caused by Monorail Pink, but it wasn’t entirely that pilot’s fault either. From the breakdown of several stories that have flooded by inbox in the last 12 hours or so, the blame all comes down from a major miscommunication between Central Monorail Control and the Monorail Shop while they were directing Monorail Pink through the procedure to take the switch beam from the Epcot line over to the Magic Kingdom expressway beam, before heading back to the shop for the night. The way it was explained to me is basic form is that Monorail Pink pulled forward out of the station, as if it were going to Epcot, and came to the stop somewhere just past the switch track. Here is where the communication problem comes up, as the Shop apparently controls the switch tracks and communicated something to the Central control booth (at the TTC) that the switch track has been moved. Central instructed Pink that they were clear to reverse onto the switch track, which instead struck right into Purple inside the station. However I’ve heard that no one from the platform crew was in the booth where one of them should have been during this kind of procedure, where they could visually check on things and could have called off Monorail Pink before it was too late. The normal system that prevents accidents from happening (MAPO) was in an “overide” mode at the time, which is standard procedure any time monorails are switched from one beam to another. At this point in time the pilot of Monorail Pink was pretty much going on the word of the control tower that everything was normal. Even though they have rearview mirrors, the darkness in this area of the track combined with the curve of the beam itself were a big factor. In fact if you look at the aerial photo I’ve “borrowed” here to display the area of the accident, you can see that way the switch beam curves here alongside the main beam, it would be very difficult for the pilot to tell from “feel” that they had not switched to the right beam. With the explanation that it was all a bad series of human errors that caused the accident, Disney was given permission to reopen the system late yesterday afternoon along with an updated procedure list of extra verifications required when moving monorails from one beam to another. Disney has also elected, for the time being, to suspend the practice of allowing park guests to ride up front with the pilots. Not so much for a safety reason, but out of respect for the pilots during this difficult time, so they aren’t swamped with non-stop questions about it from the guests. -- Reported on July 7, 2009 by Andrew Semon.


Duelling Dragons at Universal's Islands of adventure
July 1, 2009
Local news reports that a staff member was injured on Duelling Dragons this morning before the park opened. The staff memeber was taken to hospital. Park officials won't confirm what happened, but say they are doing they can to assist the staff member and the family. The ride remains closed today. -- Reported on July 1, 2009 by Gareth H.


Coal Cracker at Hersheypark
May 9, 2009
A Delaware woman was taken to a local hospital with unspecified injuries after several boats collided at the end of the flume ride. -- Reported on May 11, 2009 by Robert Niles.


The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad at Universal's Islands of Adventure
March 20, 2009
Happened today 3-20-09. at the 3:30 show. The very begining of the adventures of sinbad show the actor which we assumed was sinbad started from a highwire slide from the stage to a platform and fell into the audience and partially on stage props located in the middle of the audience as well... the cord he swong down from snapped and fell at least 1 1/2 stories from mid air into the stands..once that had happened the audience was removed immediately and nothing was said afterwards....went to check the net and newscast about it and nothing.. saw a new chopper show up for a few moments after the incident but not sure if it was pertaining to that accident or not. not much i had found out after that..wondering if the actor was ok??? -- Reported on March 20, 2009 by r s.

Follow-ups:

Just found this article http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-universal-accident-islands-adventure-032009,0,7485698.story -- Reported on March 26, 2009 by Ron Lake.

Just found this report about it -- Reported on March 26, 2009 by Ron Lake.


Ninja at Six Flags Magic Mountain
August 30, 2008
A 20-year-old man scaled a security fence surrounding the roller coaster, allegedly to retrieve a hat, when he was struck by the train. The man was taken to a local hospital, where his condition was unknown. -- Reported on August 31, 2008 by Robert Niles.

Follow-ups:

supposivly the 20 yearold died later that day of head injuries -- Reported on August 24, 2009 by jamie cim.


Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus Las Vegas
July 17, 2008
12-year-old California girl's heart stopped after riding the Canyon Blaster roller coaster at Circus Circus' Adventure Dome park. An off-duty firefighter performed CPR, then revived the girl using a defibrillator. She was taken to a local hospital, where she died a week later, on July 22. -- Reported on July 23, 2008 by Kathy Blythe.


The Rainbow at Liseberg
July 15, 2008
The arm of this spinner ride collapsed, and the riders' compartment feel, injuring at least 36 people, at least 20 seriously, according to news reports from Gothenburg, Sweden. -- Reported on July 15, 2008 by Robert Niles.


Batman at Six Flags Over Georgia
June 28, 2008
A 17-year-old was struck and killed by the coaster after entering a restricted area. -- Reported on June 28, 2008 by Ben James.

Follow-ups:

It was the kids fault, end of story. -- Reported on July 13, 2008 by April Leonheart.

so true -- Reported on April 9, 2009 by Cooper Lipinski.

This is very sad. Be sure to remind your kids, if you are a parent that signs in amusement parks and otherwise are to be strictly obeyed. This kid and his buddy were apparently outside the park and hopped two fences to get back in. There were warning signs with "Danger" on them. Bottom line: obey the signs and safety rules everywhere. No one spends money on a sign that is not necessary. My heart breaks and goes out to the parents and family and youth group for their loss. May his loss not be in vain, tell your kids of the consequences of disobeying warning signs so this will not happen again. -- Reported on August 3, 2008 by Bonnie Winberg.


Wildcat at Cedar Point
May 16, 2008
A train rolled back down a lift, hitting the trailing train. Nine people were treated at the scene, and one was transported to a local hospital for observation. -- Reported on May 23, 2008 by Robert Niles.


Splash Waterfalls at Six Flags Great America
March 11, 2008
Thomas Lee, 46, of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, fell to his death on Tuesday morning while working on the Splash Waterfalls ride. Lee was working for a contractor, hired to dismantle the ride. -- Reported on March 11, 2008 by Robert Niles.

Follow-ups:

i was on a ride at great american nd i got stuck on the ride for 3 hrs. -- Reported on August 13, 2009 by Gabriela Perez.


Cadbury Land Dream Castle Gondola at Rainbow's End
February 10, 2008
A 21-year-old employee of Rainbow's End park in South Auckland, Australia, Michael Ross Stuart, was killed after being trapped between a ferris wheel carriage and its frame while conducting routine maintenance on the ride. -- Reported on February 10, 2008 by Kelly Perazzolo.

Follow-ups:

Rainbows End is in New Zealand, not Australia -- Reported on June 29, 2008 by Una Mcleish.


Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom
February 10, 2008
Four people were hurt when a hose failed, setting an engine one of the safari vehicles ablaze. Three of the injuries were minor, but one girl was taken to the hospital for a reported knee injury after jumping from the truck. The ride was closed for the day for inspection, and reopened the next morning. -- Reported on February 11, 2008 by Robert Niles.


Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom
December 18, 2007
A 44-year old man was unresponsive and unconscious when his ride vehicle pulled up to the unload area. Disney called in the Reedy Creek Emergency services and the man was taken to the Celebration Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. -- Reported on December 18, 2007 by Robert Niles.


Primeval Whirl at Disney's Animal Kingdom
November 24, 2007
An employee was struck by a moving car on this spinning roller coaster, knocking her off a platform. The employee suffered serious head injuries and was taken to a local hospital. -- Reported on November 29, 2007 by Robert Niles.

Follow-ups:

The cast member, who was 63, passed away Thursday evening, 11/29/07. Autopsy is scheduled for today (Friday November 30) -- Reported on November 30, 2007 by Jake Ryan.



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