Accidents Involving Injury at Knott's Berry Farm

Official U.S. federal and state data on theme park accidents is almost nonexistent. That's why Theme Park Insider users are creating this visitor-maintained database of theme park accidents--to give public at least some information about attraction safety records.

Do you know of, or have been part of, an accident involving injury at Knott's Berry Farm? Report it to Theme Park Insider.

Verified Incidents

9/16/2009 - Xcelerator - Submitted by ThemeParkFreak on 9/16/2009

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.

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Follow-up:
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 -- Submitted by Juegoconfuego on 9/17/2009

Ride Video from the accident leaked onto YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn5yCeplHc4 -- Submitted by docbrownB2TF on 9/18/2009

The stagecoach lost pressure in its brakes, causing operators to be unable to stop the coach. The horse team ran into a fence, causing the death of one of the lead horses, and minor, unspecified injuries to one ride operator and two guests.

For more information about this incident, visit http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=53234§ion=LOCAL&subsection=LOCAL&year=2003&month=8&day=20

Click here if you have additional information.

A 40-year-old woman fell out of the boat as it made its steep descent down a 115-foot drop at the end of the ride. She fell into the water and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The investigation is focusing on both the woman's size and whether a ride attendant checked her restraint.

For more information about this incident, visit http://www.latimes.com/la-000076818sep25.story

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Follow-up:
The lady did slip out of the restraint when it hit the decent part and she fell to her death. The ride has been changed to now have seat belts/restraints. ALL RIDES SHOULD NOW HAVE BOTH SEAT BELTS AND RESTRAINTS. THE RESTRAINTS JUST HOLD YOU IN PLACE BUT WITH SEAT BELTS YOUR MORE PROTECTED. THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN XCELERATOR DOWN FOR A MONTH TO ADD SEAT BEALTS AND ALL NEW RESTRAINTS. I HAVE WORK FOR KNOTTS FOR 3 YEARS SO ANYTHING ELSE EMAIL ME. -- Submitted by bella2004 on 7/30/2004

While on a ride at Knotts this past weekend an employee was telling the story of what he saw while working the day of the Perilous Plunge incident. His story goes that the lady had very large breasts and was too confined for the ride and undid the restraining straps on the ride so that she would fit and be more comfortable. Unfortunately this caused her to fall out, she was ok until a boat hit her and killed her. He stated that there was blood in the water and that it recirculated through all the places that this water was being used at. What an unfortunate accident this was. -- Submitted by Caligayle3 on 12/25/2007

A 25-year-old woman died after suffering a ruptured middle cerebral artery.

For more information about this incident, visit http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000071728sep05.story

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Follow-up:
That woman who died on Montezuma's Revenge was my doctor's wife. -- Submitted by Tatsu on 6/4/2009

A ride operator suffered multiple fractures to one leg and a fractured foot on the other leg when he was trapped under the train's cowcatcher and dragged about 50 feet. No guests were injured, however.

For more information about this incident, visit http://www.calendarlive.com/top/1,1419,L-LATimes-Family-X!ArticleDetail-31325,00.html

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A piece of wood flew off the track and hit 5 people on the ride. Injuries were minor. (See bottom of story)

For more information about this incident, visit http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/26/rollercoasters.01/

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Unverified Reports

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.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

My husband and I rode lots of rides at Knotts including extreme rollercoasters. But when we rode the less extreme "Jaguar" my husband was slammed into the side and broke his rib. "Jaguar" is a very violent rollercoaster slamming you from side to side.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

After riding the Ghostrider at Knott's yesterday, my neck is very stiff and painful when I move certain ways. It started to stiffen up a couple hours after riding. For me, that ride was ridiculously rough. It felt like a battering. The kids with me, though, still liked it. I'm in my early forties, and I hated it. I can totally see where it could cause lasting injury.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

While riding Ghost Rider my head was jerked backwards very hard toward the beginning of the ride. It felt uncomfortable all day. The next day I had nausea, tingling in the hands and more pain. I went to Kaiser Urgent Care. X-Rays came back negative, but the diagnosis was a Hyperextension of the neck (a whiplash type injury). I was given a muscle relaxer and ibuprofen.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

Got this through e-mail. Child leaned forward too far forward and did a headplant into the seat in front of him. Blood all over his arm and face, with blood splattered on the lapbar and inside the car, his shirt also seemed to have a amount of blood on it.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

I went on Ghostrider for the first time. As we went down the first drop, my head flew back and I sustained a whiplash type injury. I reported it immediately, and told them there was a picture of the incident too, as their camera took one when the injury happened. They believed me because of the picture mostly, but never said I should get checked by a doctor, and said that they could do nothing but let the manufacturer of the ride know about what happened. They need to have neck support on this ride. I have a copy of the picture.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

Follow-up:
I would like to know more about the incidents on Ghostrider and the people who were hurt on the first drop -- Submitted by Hoodack on 12/18/2004

Linda Haggerty broke her neck while riding Ghost Rider @ Knott's Berry Farm. She reported sudden onset of severe neck pain when her head was jerked rapidly backward and forward at the BEGINNING of the ride. Three unrelated acquaintances have advised us they received previous whiplash type injuries (but did not report)resulting in chronic neck pain after riding Ghost Rider. How many others have seriously injured their neck on this ride? It is scary that people have no idea the risks they are taking when riding this roller coaster. -- Submitted by shannonhaggerty2 on 1/21/2007

while on this ride, my cousin got whip lash from his head was forced down because of the force. he was only eight years old, and he couldnt move his neck for a week.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

On the first drop of Ghost Rider, my head was whipped all the way back, and I had to grab onto a friend to pull myself up. This happened to be where they take the photo, and in the picture my face could not be seen. I did not feel any pain directly after the incident, however the next day, as well as today, there is pain in my neck, on the front and back, and it hurts to swallow and move normally.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

A Ride Operator on The Calico Railroad was killed while uncoupling cars from the locomotive following the park closing. The cars shifted, pinning him between the cars and the tender, and killing him instantly. The accident occured while the park was setting up for that night's Halloween Haunt, and delayed the opening of Haunt for some time. T

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

Follow-up:
This accident infact, did happen. The ride operator, was a train engineer named George. This tragedy was indeed an accident, and the other parties involved were very cautious, serious engineers. Only George himself knows why he suddenly told them over the radio to "STOP!" -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 5/20/2004

Yes, this tragedy did indeed happen. I read about it in one of the many Railroad magazines and pulications I read. -- Submitted by TrainMan on 5/6/2007

A train Bandit suffered severe ankle sprain, and strain to his shoulders, when the hand rail on the left rear of the caboose rusted through, and gave way as the bandit attempted to climb aboard the moving train. This caused the bandit to fall back to the ground, landing on his feet, but causing the injury.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

Follow-up:
Accident confirmed- personal involvement. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 5/20/2004

A train Bandit suffered severe ankle sprain, and strain to his shoulders, when the hand rail on the left rear of the caboose rusted through, and gave way as the bandit attempted to climb aboard the moving train. This cause the bandit to fall back to the ground, landing on his feet, but causing the injury.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

If you have additional information that can confirm, clarify or refute any of these reports, please e-mail the editor! (Please don't forget to include the attraction's name in your message.)

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