Accidents Involving Injury at GhostRider

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 GhostRider? Report it to Theme Park Insider.

(If you are looking for general information about GhostRider, please visit Theme Park Insider's reader reviews for GhostRider.)

Verified Incidents

8/23/1999 - Submitted by Name Withheld on 5/16/2001

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/

Click here if you have additional information.

Follow-up:
my father built the emergency steps on GhostRider. I hope you used them after this happened and if yo udid the thank my dad who wors with WestHelm. (and yes i am using this for advertisement) :D -- Submitted by treeblossom123 on 12/30/2009

Unverified Reports

This ride is extremely rough and jerky! Jerked me so hard to the left and then instantly jerked me hard to the right, hitting my sister's shoulder! Felt something pull apart in my ribcage and I continued to experience alot of pain as the ride continued for what seemed "forever" as the coaster car jerked terribly while all the while, dropping up and down on the track! The pain in my rigcage was so terrible and I screamed to my sister that I felt I would pass out! I heard her yell back to me "stay with me, it's almost over!" In alot of pain rest of day, guarding my left ribcage area. I was having shooting pains and it hurt to touch ribcage and sternum area and to breathe in! The Ghostrider was the first and last ride of the day for me! As it was my nephew's 16th birthday at Knott's, I put on a "happy face" not to put a damper on his special day. Early next morning, I was driven to Urgent Care(could not drive myself due to the pain). Received immediate pain shot order from MD. CT scan was done to rule-out internal injury. Subsequently, was diagnosed with severe chest wall strain/tear! Sent home with narcotic pain reliever and muscle relaxant. Off work for 4 days! This nurse is still in pain on day 3! In fact, my 16 year old nephew who rode all of the faster and more intense coasters that same day (more than once) stated to me, "the Ghostrider is definitely the roughest and jerkiest ride at Knott"s."

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

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.

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

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.

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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