Unverified Injury Accidents at Theme and Amusement Parks
These incidents have been reported by Theme Park Insider's registered users, but they have not been confirmed yet by a second source at this time. Please read our Accident Watch page for information on how and why we are collecting this information.
Blue Streak at Cedar Point
July 2, 2009
when my mom was abot 5 to 7years old she got on the ride with my grand dad and they were going up the hill and realized that their bar was not lached they got to the top of the hill and went down the man in front of them grabed her head to keep it from getting stuck inbetween the cars and my grandad had her legs when they hit the bottom and the force knocked the back and lached the bar she was not injerd and did not sue but asked that they check the restraints before leaving the staition
i know i am akid but this story is true
-- Reported on July 2, 2009 by jesse howard.
Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
June 27, 2009
I suffered bruised ribs on the Rattler. I was riding by myself, as we had an odd number of people in our group and didn't want the kids to ride by themselves. On the first turn after the initial climb, despite holding on to the hand rail, I was thrown into the middle partion to my right. This knocked the wind out of me and left me doubled over the partition until the second climb. I would strongly recommend making sure you ride with a partner, that way you have someone else's shoulders that you can bounce off of.
-- Reported on June 29, 2009 by Alohalani Guerra.
Stealth at Thorpe Park
June 26, 2009
basically i was on stealth, rode it once at the front no problems whatsoever. then i went on a aggain immediatley after, and this time i sat on the back. it really hurt my back, in between my shoulder blades. my cousin had discomfort in his shoulders and the next daty they were a yellowy colour, due to bruising
-- Reported on July 3, 2009 by Laure Dav.
Roman Rapids at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
June 13, 2009
Sat - June 13th - After we road the Rapids we we waiting for the family drying booth and a family that got off after us reported that a girl in their boat (not related to them) had suffered some type of chest injury when the boat hots some of the bouncers. Said she could not breathe well and did not talk the rest of the ride.
The ride was closed (you could see that clearly over the fence by the booth) and medical was bought to her. She was extracted into a wheelchair. Ride remained closed for a while it appeared (At least 45 min while we were nearby). People began leaving the line. This was late afternoon - 3-5pm.
Not sure of the extent of her injuries, could have been real minor for all I know. (Maybe just wind knocked out of her?)
-- Reported on June 19, 2009 by R Gillis.
The Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia
June 11, 2009
I rode in the back seat. While going down the first hill, it felt like something snapped in my back. I couldn't breathe, yell, or talk for a few seconds, and I had terrible back pain for the rest of the ride. My back hurt for several days after.
This has happened on one other wooden coaster before (the Gwazi at Busch Gardens: Tampa). The exact same thing happened on the ride except the pain was much worse and I went to the emergency room just to make sure that it wasn't serious.
-- Reported on June 12, 2009 by Matthew Andriotty.
Acrophobia at Six Flags Over Georgia
June 8, 2009
During the drop of Acrophobia, I was free-falling to the point that I was not touching the seat. When the ride slowed down, I hit the seat extremely hard and have had very bad tailbone pain since (10 days as of this writing). I cannot sit for long periods of time (e.g., >30 minutes) in a chair with a cushion and not even for 10 minutes in a chair without a cusion. At this point, I have decided that I should have a doctor take a look.
-- Reported on June 16, 2009 by Brian Arlinghaus.
Pavement close to Rockin Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios
June 4, 2009
An unattended child pushed a stroller in my walking path causing me to fall over the stroller, over the curb and into the pavement. I hit my forhead and both knees. It took the emt's 1 hour to get to the park. I spent 5-6 hours in the hospital. I had a ct scan, findings large left frontal soft tissue hematoma. It measures 1.66 x 3.03 cm. No fractures are seen. I had 5 x-rays on my right knee. Contusion of my right knee, which caused local pain, swelling and bruising. No broken bones. This injury may take from a few days to a few weeks to heal. As of 6/30. My knee and lower leg are still bruised and hurting. My face is still back, blue, various colors plus the hematoma is still quite large on my forhead.
-- Reported on June 30, 2009 by Karen Bailey.
Indiana Jones at Disneyland, Anaheim CA
May 28, 2009
The entrance to the ride takes you thru a long, winding tunnel then down stone stairs to wait to be told where on the loading dock to stand in order to board the ride. Throughout the tunnel & ride, the lighting is dim and flickering, adding to the theme atmosphere of the ride. The line is split in two, side-by-side, one for fast track riders. At the bottom of the stairs an elderly gentleman, I assume missed the bottom stair, falling across the dividing rail ( rope or hard rail, I don't remember) to the floor in front of my feet. He got up on his own right away with little help from patrons, although he seemed dazed. His forehead was bleeding and there was enough blood on the stone floor to been readily seen. His (probable) wife who had been ahead of him had already gone thru to the loading area, returned to him and I heard an employee tell her to take him to a nearby stool to sit down. I also heard patrons in the line calling out to the employees for a medic. I heard an employee say to also call for custodial, people behind the gentlman were lifting their kids up and over the blood. Employees hadn't touched the man, or given any physical help at that point. We were guided to the loading dock & boarded the ride within a minute. When we were returned to the dock after the ride, the gentleman was still sitting there. His wife was standing in front of him. As we were walking out of the tunnels, a man dressed as a safari guide & a female employee pushing a wheelchair passed us going in. We couldn't stop worrying about the man & his wife, if he was okay...the amount of blood, his age & that it was his head....
-- Reported on May 30, 2009 by Tina B.
Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure
May 25, 2009
Because the line was so short in front of the Great American Scream Machine, my boyfriend and I decided to jump on the ride. After only 10 minutes in line (typical coaster lines around 40-75 minutes long), we were on board. The Scream Machine is an older coaster, and admittedly not expected to be as smooth as the newer metal coasters. After the first decline, I felt an enormous strain on my spine. Each incline follewed by the jarring valley became increasingly more painful. All, told the following morning was spent in the urgent care getting x-rays that revealed my neck was bent against the natural curvature. Many pain pills and muscle realaxers are to come. I may end up with a normal neck after physical therapy.
-- Reported on May 26, 2009 by Melissa C.
Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida
May 18, 2009
hi while riding this ride i experienced a scary and painful injury...my hair was caught in the metal headrest...i had to hold on to my hair so it would not rip out[approx. size of a quarter]when the ride was over i could not get off the ride because of it and my husband had to unwind my hair...i have medium length straight hair and i am 56 yrs. old and would not take the time to report something unless it really happened...i notified universal and did they care...not at all!...never even offered a free ticket or a thank you...i was made to feel like i had done something wrong...this happened on 05/18/09...i am discouraged from reporting anything of a safety nature to them ever again
-- Reported on June 6, 2009 by debra domby.
Next to Artic Exhibit at SeaWorld Orlando
May 17, 2009
My six year old son fell forward and hit his forehad on a beveled steel spiral railing. He was ambulanced to a near by hospital and then sent to Arnold Palmer Childrens Hospital to see a plastic surgeon. He had a CAT scan to rule out a skull fracture but did require over 20 stitches to close the severe laceration in his forehead.
-- Reported on May 24, 2009 by Stacy Norris.
House of Horrors at Universal Hollywood
May 9, 2009
At the House of Horrors attraction entrance there is a "man" posing as a statue to scare people. I was frightened and caught off guard letting out a scream. We started to walk into the attraction and heard a loud, almost hollow thunk. It was extremely loud we turned around and the "man" had frightened a boy in his teens into a drop grand maul seizure. The "man" returned to his post and assumed his stoic stance. Workers just stood there for a ridiculously long time before reacting. They even still allowed some foot traffic through the attraction before shutting it down. Someone in our party went to the boys aid and along with his mother attempted to help the boy through his multiple seizures until paramedics could arrive. I have contacted the park to make sure the boy was OK, but in their fear of litigation they have failed to react in an any way that would humanize the park and give the victim dignity. If anyone has info, please post.
-- Reported on May 11, 2009 by Nicole Raglin.
Gold Rusher at Six Flags Magic Mountain
March 27, 2009
During AVID night at Six Flags Magic Mountain, my friend and I were about to ride the Gold Rusher. Once at the front of the line, the ride was shut down. A group of freshmen girls began crying ans shouting that one of their friends had jumped off/fell off the ride and into the bushes. A search for the girl began. I do not know what happened afterwards since the area was closed off.
The ride did reopen later in the night, but the worklights were turned on (the ride is usually dark at night).
-- Reported on March 28, 2009 by John Quinteros.
sinbad stunt show at universal orlando island of adventure
March 20, 2009
We (my family) were going to see the sinbad stunt show. the show started by a guy taking a zip line from a high perch on the stage to a pirate ship part that is located in the crowd. right before the stunt man reached the crow's nest where he was supposed to land he fell. The fall was about 20 feet and he didn't scream out moved very briefly then was still. they immediately stopped the show and ushered everyone out. He landed with his legs hitting the pirate ship and his upper body landed on what looked like a large box sitting right next to the ship. this article says he only suffered minor injuries, but i find that hard to believe because he hit HARD.
-- Reported on March 23, 2009 by Zane Hardinger.
Dueling Dragons - Ice at Universal's Islands of Adventure
March 17, 2009
According to the amusement park safety association, there has been no report to comfirm that the safety harness has come loose. The only problem that the ride has encountered in these circumstances is when a rider has purposefully made the harness' loose.
As per the lady hitting her leg on the other roller coaster, this is an urban legend and can be found on urban legend websites. When designed, the roller coasters were set far enough apart for a 9 foot man to be able to ride and not touch the other roller coaster, thus in order for the lady to have hit her leg, she would have to be 10 feet tall and could not possibly fit in the regular or larger person chairs. This can be found on the blue prints and designs of the dueling dragons.
-- Reported on March 17, 2009 by Mitch Moore.
GhostRider at Knott's Berry Farm
February 1, 2009
I visited Knott's this past Sunday, February 1st with my 9 year old daughter, my neighbor and her 8 year old daughter. Our first ride was Ghost Rider and since my neighbor’s daughter did not meet the height requirement I sat out with her while my neighbor went on the ride with my daughter. After the ride ended my daughter immediately began complaining about her neck hurting and my neighbor, Shari suddenly had a headache, I gave both of them Advil for pain and then got some ice for my daughter’s neck. We spent the rest of the day tending to their pains. That night Shari’s headache began to move down her neck to her back, she had to see her Doctor yesterday for the back pain who quickly prescribed muscle relaxers and she has as of now missed the last two days of work. She can’t sit longer than an hour due to the pain. As far as my daughter she still has not regained full movement of her head and we are still alternating ice and warm compresses to help alleviate the pain.
-- Reported on February 4, 2009 by Jessica Aguirre.
Tomorrowland Speedway at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
January 25, 2009
A middle age man was standing up to exit out of the car. The 2 children in the car behind him did not stop at their assigned spot and hit the car at full speed. The man was thrown forward then back hitting his lower back on the top of the seat. The father of the children apologized. The injured man called for a supervisor. Then a back board and stretcher were called to the scene directly in front of the Speedway and the man was taken away.
-- Reported on January 27, 2009 by Amy Dorzey.
Jaws at Universal Studios Florida
December 22, 2008
On the final encounter with the shark on the Jaws attraction, my son's sweater was caught on one of the mechanical sharks teeth. He was dragged under the water briefly, but managed to break free and climb back into the boat. He suffered minor cuts and bruises.
-- Reported on January 4, 2009 by Bruce Durden.
Follow-ups:
How would that happen? THe shark is far enough away to now catch anything, unless your "Son" was already in the water, something which would result in expulsion from the park and a 1 year trespass being issued against you.
This is a completley made up story if I've ever heard one!
-- Reported on February 5, 2009 by Gareth H.
This incident would NEVER be possible. Even if the "injured" party was in the water already the captain of the boat would have called for an emergency stop on the attraction before anything unsafe occurred. This is just silly. If you are going to flat out lie about someone getting hurt, first off, shame on you, why would you even bother. Second of all, if you ARE going to bother trying to get attention in such a pathetic manner then at least have the imagination to come up with something that actually could happen in the real world.
-- Reported on May 15, 2009 by Andrew Semon.
Jaws at Universal Studios Florida
December 22, 2008
On the final encounter with the shark my twelve year old son's sweater was caught on one of the mechanical sharks teeth and was pulled under. He held under water briefly but managed to swim free and climb back into the boat. He escaped with minor cuts and bruises
-- Reported on January 5, 2009 by Bruce Durden.
Batman-The Dark Knight at Six Flags New England
October 11, 2008
10/11/2008 I was injured on The Batman roller coaster at Six Flags New England when a cell phone hit me in the face during the ride, just missing my eye. It took about 20 minutes for the park's medical staff to arrive and give me ice for my swelling face. I refused an ambulance ride to the hospital. Although roller coaster incidents are rare, this could have been prevented if Six Flags safety policy prohibited people from having cell phones and other loose items in their pockets. The owner of the cell phone was not detained or questioned after he assured the attendant that the phone was secured in his cargo shorts and that he did not remove it during the ride. It is scary that compliance with their safety policy still allowed this injury to occur. I was told that this type of injury involving a cell phone had never been reported before this and that they would not change their policy, insisting that it is unfair to not allow cell phones in the park. The Six Flags management staff denied me a refund since I had been in the park for over 3 hours. I was not physically able or willing to enjoy any more rides that day. When I politely but obstinately stated I would not leave without a refund the staff threatened to call security/and or the police to escort me out. I left the park on my own terms, listening and watching other people have the time of their lives, knowing that I will never again be able to feel the same as them. Having joined the small statistical pool of amusement park injuries makes me inclined to see the darker side of the industry. I am unlucky in that manner but also very lucky that I did not loose my eye-or worse. I beg Six Flags to crack down on their safety policy but so far they refuse to see a problem. The scary part is that as I left the park that day a small group of people as gathered around the fence at the bottom of the Superman:Ride of Steel examining a cell phone that had been hurtled off of the ride. A girl standing close by said that she felt her phone slipping out of her pocket during the ride and that she had to hold it in place.
-- Reported on October 13, 2008 by Tara Ruggieri.
Follow-ups:
This incident happened to my daughter Tara. Her boyfriend, her brother, his fiance and her 3 cousins were also witnesses to the accident. She called me from the accident scene and was obviously very upset. She also emailed me a photo showing the bruise to her face. I'm just glad that it missed her eye! Shame on the park for letting the person whose cell phone hit my daughter WALK!
-- Reported on October 14, 2008 by Steve Ruggieri.
I have been hit by objects before as well, normal while operating a ride. We don't want you to keep your loose articles, in fact I have had people tell me they had nothing and the weirdest things would fly out. We dont have a right to force you to show us what you have in your pockets. We can only go off of what we see. The rest is up to the guests judgement. We legally cant do anything else. Even on most park tickets it says you enter the grounds at your own risk.
-- Reported on January 28, 2009 by Janice Chitty.
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