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Accidents Involving Injury at Six Flags Great America

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 Six Flags Great America? Report it to Theme Park Insider.

Verified Incidents

(Even though these incidents have been verified, individual reports might contain the opinion of the persons submitting them.)

3/11/2008 - Splash Waterfalls - Submitted by robert on 3/11/2008

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.

  • Click here if you have additional information.

    • 8/7/2007 - Scenic Railway - Submitted by robert on 8/8/2007
    A park maintenance worker fell 20 feet while servicing a locomotive. He retained consciousness but complained of back pain and was flown to a local hospital.

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    • 8/2/2007 - The Orbit - Submitted by robert on 8/3/2007
    A 34-year-old woman and three children, two age 10 and one age 8, were hospitalized with neck and back pain after they were jostled on the stop of this spinning flat ride. The ride was inspected and reopened after no operational problems were found.

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    • 8/16/2006 - Spacely Sprocket Rockets - Submitted by robert on 8/17/2006
    A 10-year-old girl from Arlington Heights, Ill. who had a history of heart trouble collapsed shortly after riding this kiddie roller coaster. Paramedics responded and found the girl in full cardiac arrest. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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    • Follow-up:
    A coroner's report confirms that Jaclyn Silberman of Arlington Heights died of a congenital heart condition and that, although she had just exited a roller coaster, the ride did not trigger the heart attack that killed her. -- Submitted by robert on 8/18/2006

    While entering a ride at the park there is a board with ride intensitys and health warnings. that girl should not of gone on that ride even if it was a kiddie ride. She knew she had a heart condition and was putting herself at risk. -- Submitted by ragingbull_baby1219 on 12/28/2006

    5/29/2004 - Rajun' Cajun - Submitted by nowakmak on 6/17/2004
    A 52-year-old employee died June 16 of injuries suffered on the Rajun Cajun May 29. No details on what exactly happened.

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    • Follow-up:
    First of all why did he cross the tracks WHILE the ride was running? -- Submitted by marschlage on 10/26/2005

    The man apparently crossed the track and was hit in the head by one of the speeding ride cars. He had lung cancer and one of his lungs collapsed on June 7. He was taken off life support the following day. The cause of death was "traumatic head injury." [For more information about this incident, visit http://www.channel3000.com/news/3430456/detail.html] -- Submitted by PirateAsh71755 on 6/29/2004

    5/3/2003 - Raging Bull - Submitted by mrdtwwjd on 5/3/2003
    An 11-year-old girl was found unconscious when Raging Bull pulled in the station around noon. CPR was performed, but not long after she was rushed to St. Therese hospital, she was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be performed to determine her exact cause of death.

  • For more information about this incident, visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=1097

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    • Follow-up:
    Died on choking on gum. Don't eat anything on rides folks! -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 7/18/2003

    [For more information about this incident, visit http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-park04.html] -- Submitted by Darkbeer on 5/4/2003

    Got a call about this, it's indeed true, girl had some type of object in her mouth. -- Submitted by HAPIMS on 5/4/2003

    The girl had a heart problem, I believe. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 9/4/2004

    Nope, it was gum! I remember hearing that on the radio/news or something about 3 to 4 years ago or something -- Submitted by marschlage on 10/26/2005

    yes it was GUM! i remember hearing about it everywhere when i went to the park and it was all over the news...it was GUM! ...it's stupid to chew gum on rollercoasters... -- Submitted by razor12 on 7/12/2006

    it was deffinetley gum -- Submitted by for3v3rlov3d on 6/23/2007

    Nope, It was a heart condition that killed her! Still, don't eat gum on a roller coaster! -- Submitted by coasterdude on 11/27/2006

    It was first reported and assumed that she choked on gum, but it did turn out that she had a heart condition. I'm not sure if she or her family were aware of it at the time. -- Submitted by tillentprs on 3/31/2007

    10/10/2001 - Fun Machine - Submitted by HAPIMS on 1/28/2002
    A 14-year-old girl suffered a fractured ankle while exiting the ride.

  • For more information about this incident, visit http://www.dailyherald.com/search/main_story.asp?intID=3727861

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    • Follow-up:
    Did she do this on the ride or did she just move it wrong or something... this story isn't clear. -- Submitted by marschlage on 10/26/2005

    Unverified Reports

    3/29/1980 - The Whizzer - Submitted by calig on 7/22/2003
    I was working in the control posiiton monitoring the trains on the track. It was a raining day/evening shift and rid ops mechanics had been called out a couple of times to fix trains sticking in a brake near the station. As I was about to change positions with my relief person, I watched the last train round the bend and shoot the brake, as it headed for the station where riders were loading and unloading. The trains collided launching one train up the tracks and causing the rear train to bounce backwards. A 13 year old boy fell backwards into the tracks and I didn't notice him as I hit the button to shut the entire ride down. The train had come forward and locked on top of the boy. Many people were were strewn around the platform injured. Passangers attempted to roll the train back off of the boy, but he died that day as I watched security try to administer CPR. Terrible accident that I can see in my mind to this day.

  • For more information about this incident, visit http://members.aol.com/rides911/coasters.htm


    • 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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