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Accidents Involving Injury at Six Flags Magic Mountain
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 Magic Mountain? 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.)
8/30/2008 - Ninja - Submitted by robert on 8/31/2008
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.
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Follow-up:
supposivly the 20 yearold died later that day of head injuries -- Submitted by 1jamie321 on 8/24/2009
4/9/2004 - Scream - Submitted by HereComesTheDrop! on 4/9/2004
An employee was struck dead on this morning's test run. Bantita Rackchamroon, 21, was on the track near the load station when the train hit her. California's OSHA is investigating why she was on the track, and why a train was dispatched with someone on track.
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Follow-up:
This is very sad as I rode scream only 4 day before this and I thought it was a very smooth safe ride and one of six flags safest. -- Submitted by msilton on 8/13/2004
Unlike the CA Screaming incident, this one is totally different. On all attractions, employees are required to Tag out or lockout, before entering the track. In most cases, the only time Ride ops should be on the track is in evacuating ride vechicles and durring OJT. Once and employees tags out (removes tag from board at the control panel) no employee is to launch vechiles or turn on the ride. It is possible to start up the ride however. Forgetting to tag out leads to suspension, relocatrion, termination of employment or death for employees like in this case. Ingnoratly launching a vechile with tag outs on the track is grounds for termination and imprioment for employees. Besides usually only maintecne people enter the ride track. -- Submitted by KeikoA on 9/30/2005
as that is true, i heard she was like..uh how do you say it? an employee from another country..kind of like an exchange student. and she was listeing to her headphones as to why she didnt hear the train coming..also if she wasnt doing the right thing why wasnt there any other worker there with her??!
can anyone confirm this is true?.. -- Submitted by dyl- on 7/19/2007
11/25/2002 - Orient Express - Submitted by Name Withheld on 11/27/2002
A woman fell off the platform and hurt her leg on the track
Click here if you have additional information.
4/13/2002 - X - Submitted by HAPIMS on 4/24/2002
During a 5 hour wait in the X line, 6 people fainted in line due to Heat Exhaustion. No signs of water or misters in line...
Water located down hillif you want water, you're walking down hill, so you'd better have partners... Oh yeah by the way Water $4.25!!!
Click here if you have additional information.
Follow-up:
I have also witnessed people collapsing from the heat in the queue for X, and have first-hand reports via e-mail from others who had people in their groups who had to be treated. -- Submitted by robert on 6/14/2002
There is usually a portable lemonade stand by the line for X. Also, you can get free ice water in your Souveneir Cups, so send a riding partner to get some while waiting in line. I'm sure they won't accuse you of cutting in line to prevent dehydration!!! -- Submitted by beave_man on 8/21/2003
i was in the que for about 4 hours and was sooo bored and i started feeling really dizzy and light headed, so i thought they are bound to have water somewhere, so i glanced up the que and saw nothing.I then noticed a water vender about 300 metres away from the que area. after about another 15min i fainted and was brought to hospital.So bring water with you in the que for X as you ill be queing for a LONG time. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 1/23/2004
same with me on X2 last year i almost fainted but luckly I had my last bottle of water with me. A few people in front of me did and others left because of it. so many people complained they turned on 3 missters but thats it. -- Submitted by pokebleach on 2/28/2009
6/2/2001 - Goliath - Submitted by robert on 6/2/2001
A 28-year-old woman died of injuries sustained while riding, including hemorrhaging around her brain stem and a ruptured aneurysm of a cerebral artery.
For more information about this incident, visit http://www.calendarlive.com/top/1,1419,L-LATimes-Family-X!ArticleDetail-35011,00.html
Click here if you have additional information.
Follow-up:
Actually the person just suffered the brain aneurysm. There were no other injuries, I know this because I know people who worked at the park when it happened. -- Submitted by pinky81 on 1/18/2007
Actually she did die of a ruptured aneurysm. Aneurysms are most common at the base of the brain at the brainstem, so the prior description of hemorrhaging around the brainstem was accurate. A regular aneurysm (bulging of a cerebral artery) usually will not lead to death unless it bursts. The only condition I know of that would be an exception is a saddle embolus that resulted from a popliteal venous aneurysm. This is highly unlikely as aneurysms are more common in other areas and even if it did happen, it takes a while for enough clots to form before a saddle embolus can occur. -- Submitted by jayboy002 on 9/25/2007
4/6/2001 - Goliath - Submitted by Name Withheld on 8/22/2001
While in the helix of Goliath, I blacked out, but soon came back as the ride ended. This is just a reminder that Goliath has very powerful G-force, and can affect your health. It already has to a 28 year old woman who died on this ride recently.
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Follow-up:
I also blacked out on the helix after the dive. I thought it was just me at first, but my boyfriend told me he had the same thing happen to him. -- Submitted by Natalia on 10/18/2001
I didnt black out during the helix but i got tunnle vision only because I was in the back. If you dont black out or get mosion sickness or anything else, you should ride this ride, its great! -- Submitted by yika on 11/27/2003
I have ridden Goliath 6 times now, and on my first 4 times I felt tunneling vision and near blackout in the "Spaghetti Bowl" portion of the ride. Last year, two of my friends experienced the same feeling. However, this year I didn't feel anything both times I rode. The ride might have been slowed down more in the mid-course brakes, or it might just depend on the track conditions and where you are riding (the middle seats seem to experience more G-forces). -- Submitted by beave_man on 8/21/2003
I too blacked out which had never happened before when I had gone on it. After the first drop on a sharp turn I blacked out and recovered at the end. Scarry! -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 6/1/2003
i was on the ride that day and on the climb i felt dizzy and then on the 1st drop i passed out and when i woke up i had fractured my spine and neck cartilage -- Submitted by fergie_thedude on 1/23/2004
If you are a healthy person, your blood pressure normally runs about 110-130/70-90 ... the black outs, dots, and certain other conditions experienced on this ride, are caused by G-forces. As these increase, the blood in your body, literally gets pushed with the rest of you in which ever direction the G's are pulling you. This means your body has to work harder to pump the blood to your brain, and its not perfectly effecient. In the moments it takes for your body to adjust and pump harder, your brain isnt recieving enough oxygen, and the natural response is to cut back on un-neccesary functions like eyesight.
Its only momentarily, and there are no lasting effects, unless you have a pre-exiting condition, such as that of the lady killed on Goliath several years ago. She had an undiagnosed anyuerism.
Just thought that I would clear that up for everyone, lol. Seeing spots doesnt mean the ride isnt safe... just pushing you to the limits. -- Submitted by 5150Mike on 8/25/2005
On the helix i saw black dots everywhere but then afterwards they went away... it was weird -- Submitted by lambizzee on 6/15/2005
Yeah, this is interesting and has nothing to do with your weight or age. In our party of four, my teenage petite niece and her father both got an "almost blacked out tunnel vision" type experience just after reaching the bottom of first drop as heading for tunnel. My nephew and I did not experience this. They are all in great shape and I have some weight to loose, but still in good heart health and body size to ride rides. I have a habit of yelling "whoo" "ahhh" or "whee" when riding a ride to be sure I don't accidently "hold my breath" in anticipating a large drop on a ride and so I enjoy it more. Could it be that people are holding their breath unknowingly? That drop takes a while and with no Oxygen as suggested in one comment, that would present the black out possibility. Just a thought. Don't be embarrassed to take in a deep breath and let out a good yell :-). -- Submitted by Breabonnie on 8/3/2008
Yeah, this is interesting and has nothing to do with your weight or age. In our party of four, my teenage petite niece and her father both got an "almost blacked out tunnel vision" type experience just after reaching the bottom of first drop as heading for tunnel. My nephew and I did not experience this. They are all in great shape and I have some weight to loose, but still in good heart health and body size to ride rides. I have a habit of yelling "whoo" "ahhh" or "whee" when riding a ride to be sure I don't accidently "hold my breath" in anticipating a large drop on a ride and so I enjoy it more. Could it be that people are holding their breath unknowingly? That drop takes a while and with no Oxygen as suggested in one comment, that would present the black out possibility. Just a thought. Don't be embarrassed to take in a deep breath and let out a good yell :-). -- Submitted by Breabonnie on 8/3/2008
Once i reach the helix on Goliath im always close to blacking out...but i never do. I just get tunnel vision for about 5 seconds -- Submitted by Dsalin on 7/1/2007
it was my first time going to six flags and my second time riding goliath, and i had no trouble the first time. however, the scond time i rode it, i experienced neck pain on the right curve where u are going down. after the ride, it hurt very much whenever i bent or twisted my neck to the right. i had no prior neck ailments at all before riding goliath. i had no blackouts, and my neck still hurts after a day of rest. i am a very avid tennis player, and it would suck if i cant play tennis because of six flags. btw im only twelve -- Submitted by sixflagsuser12 on 4/18/2009
6/2/1998 - The Riddler's Revenge - Submitted by robert on 5/7/2002
A 30-year-old woman was left with memory loss after suffering an acute subdural hematoma as a result of riding.
For more information about this incident, visit http://www.house.gov/markey/iss_parkrides_list020507c.pdf
Click here if you have additional information.
Unverified Reports
3/27/2009 - Gold Rusher - Submitted by disney15 on 3/28/2009
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).
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
6/9/2006 - Ninja - Submitted by thiswasastory on 6/22/2006
Early this month while waiting in the short line for Ninja, one of the trains was about half way up the lift hill when the restraints all opened. It seemed the ride attendant did something that had to do with it, because she started crying and apologizing bleakly to the other ride attendants. The ride was emptied , and it was easy to empty the train as it was only about halfway up the lift. Ninja remained closed the rest of the day. Interesting, eh? This is not really an injury or accident more like a ride failure, but it was interesting to see people's reactions.
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
Follow-up:
Im sorry but thats a load of $*@#. I am a rides operator at SFFT in Texas. It is not possible to open the restraints on a coaster once it has left the station. After it is out of the station house the restraints are locked and cannot be opened until they return to the station or maintance does an unload. Therefore you have made up this report. It is not possible for that to happen on a roller coaster -- Submitted by chstech-e on 8/7/2006
Actually this can happen, and it happend to me over on Revolution. I am a former SFMM employee and was working on Revolution as a Certified Operator. I had been asked by the supervisor to perform a safety ride at around 5pm and during the first Turn around my upper safety harness opened up completely. Revolution is configured with a Lap Bar and Shoulder harness. So I quickly pulled it back down and when I returned to the station, I immediately called Maintainence and told them the train needed to be removed from the track and given a full check of the harnesses. The super came by just after maintainence showed up and I told them exactly what happend and while they didnt agree with my decision to pull the train, we later came up with the solution to not load that car. After the park opened the next day, I was told that the train had been pulled for adjustments. So yes it can happen. -- Submitted by pokesomi on 4/8/2007
7/24/2004 - Colossus - Submitted by Name Withheld on 10/30/2004
While walking around in the park after getting off the colossus a 40 year old man fell off the ride from bar locking failure.After that they didn't even close the ride and when I went over to the exit of the ride I saw a kid having to go to the the hospital because he got very bad bruses and a big scrap along his arm.Don't ride it for the rest of the year.
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
Follow-up:
Also, even tho there OLD hard to read bugs bunny sign does say to keep arms in at all times it is very important as the wood of the tracks is above you so close.so when riding remember to keep your arms DOWN. ive almost (it seemed) hit my hhand on the wood planks above -- Submitted by dyl- on 7/19/2007
7/10/2004 - Viper - Submitted by stanwcarver on 7/25/2004
My wife (Tammy) sustained an injury to her neck and back during the ride. She was unable to walk so I alerted first aid. They put her on as strecther and took her to the first aid facility. After a brief examination they called an ambulance and had her taken to the local hospital.
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
Follow-up:
The ambulance service was:
AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
FILE 55418
LOS ANGELES, CA. 90074-5418
ph # 800-424-6171
ticket # W4923367
AMBULANCE SERVICE FROM 26101 MAGIC MOUNTAIN PKWY TO HENRY MAYO NEWHALL ME -- Submitted by stanwcarver on 7/25/2004
Did your wife have her hands up on the ride? That may be why she was injured. As you go up the hill there is many signs saying to keep your hands on the safety bars, I felt like those are warning to keep your hands on them so that you do not get jerk around. Because they can't be warning you that your hands may get choped off because you do not go under any thing that may give you that risk. -- Submitted by SuperTech411 on 5/31/2009
8/18/2003 - Goliath - Submitted by beave_man on 8/21/2003
A female middle school teacher in her mid 30's was hit in the head by a camera near the bottom of the second drop of Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain at 3:20 p.m.. The train was traveling approximately 75 mph, so it left a welt 3 inches in diameter, protruding 1/2 inch from her forehead. My father was riding next to her, and tried to keep her calm for the rest of the ride to make sure she did not black out. As they disembarked the train, he asked ride attendants for help, but they apparently had no first aid knowledge, as they did nothing but call security (not the first aid nurse!!!). He had to even tell them to bring her ice for her forehead, as they just stood around staring. The first thing the guy that dropped the camera on the ride said was he felt as upset as she did because he had lost a nice camera with an entire roll of pictures taken from rides!!! We left before security or paramedics arrived, so I'm not sure of what happened to the lady. Lessons learned? 1) DO NOT CARRY LOOSE ARTICLES ON RIDES!!! 2) RIDE OPERATORS SHOULD CHECK FOR LOOSE ARTICLES!!! 3) RIDE OPERATORS SHOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY!!!
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
Follow-up:
THIS HAPPENED! I CAN CONFIRM IT IN 2 WAYS!
1. When I was at Six Flags, going on Goliath (1/3/04), they asked me to secure my camera in my pocket. I asked when this rule had been in state. They said, "Since sometime in mid-August..."
2. He wasn't done talking yet. "...we banned cameras on our steel rides. Some school teacher got hit in the head with a camera going down the drop after the turnaround. I happened to be operating the ride." -- Submitted by thenemesis97 on 2/8/2004
Ok please stick to the story. I am a rides operator at a Six Flags park. Saftey is our number one concern. So not blame the operators for a guests disregard to rules. There are signs at every ride for a reason. TO READ THEM?!!!. CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON ANY SIX FLAGS RIDES (except the train). Now just cuz there not allowed doesnt mean they dont get on. Guest hide them. Ride Ops can not catch everyone so blame the stupid guest not Ride Ops -- Submitted by chstech-e on 8/7/2006
I currently work at SFMM, and although Safety is our Number One priority, we are not allowed to administer first aid to any guests that have suffered injury. There is no main First Aid nurse, there is a wide range of EMT staff. We are required to call security first, then, if the customer wishes to go to first aid, we call first aid and let them know the person is on their way. They either travel on their own, but if we are not stuck in spot, we can escort them. We can only offer, not administer. At most we should have a blood kit at every ride, so if you're saying that the employees working at Goliath that day did not have first aid knowledge, then that is their fault. -- Submitted by Suchendentrost on 7/8/2007
6/9/2003 - Psyclone - Submitted by mmyeshua on 7/25/2004
Ride was so rough it created great pain in my lower back. I put my hands behind my back to cushion the battering. I have never had back problems before, but since this incident I have had severe back pain to the point of almost not being able to walk.
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
Follow-up:
This also happend to me... the ride is really bumpy and left a bruises on my knees. It is a fun ride though. Sadly they tore it down around March 2007 and is no longer standing. -- Submitted by Dsalin on 7/1/2007
same has happened to me but i heard(from 2 different employees; working on different days) that they were gunna repaint FLASHBACK and give it better coasters and move it to where Psyclone used to be -- Submitted by dyl- on 7/19/2007
2/15/2003 - Freefall - Submitted by MadMike858 on 9/7/2003
I honestly don't know all we saw is that there were paramedics surrounding the car at the bottom, and they closed it for the rest of the day. There were no apparent malfunctions with the ride itself, nothing as dramatic as a derailment.
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
Follow-up:
I think that is when a little girl about 8 years old lost her legs. There was a wire that broke and caught her and took her legs. -- Submitted by SuperTech411 on 5/31/2009
9/23/2001 - Psyclone - Submitted by Name Withheld on 9/18/2003
The lap bar was faulty causing it to to latch in the locked posistion appx 8" leaving too much give room. Not having proper restraint and lack of head and neck support I substained substantial nerve, back injury as well as many bruises. the braking system is also very bad
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
No Date Reported - Déjà Vu - Submitted by HAPIMS on 11/2/2001
During one of my many trips to Magic Mountain I wanted to see this Déjà Vu in action... After watching riders for about 1 hour, I witnessed 2 riders come out,with signs of a grade 1 concussion.. Slurred speach and feeling like they wanted to vomit... Now, to see 2 "possible" Grade 1 concussions in one day, that says something to me, your head get's banged around pretty good, and you must be hitting the OTSR pretty hard.. After examining pictures of the Déjà Vu train and it's makeup.. From a medical point of view it doesn't look pretty.
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
Follow-up:
I can remember the same thing on a different day! One Saturday, I was watching Deja Vu in action for about 1 1/2 hours, and I saw 1 guest come off the ride with signs of a grade 1 concussion. I have experienced the ride, and it IS rough on you. I think that SFMM needs to examine the ride throughly. -- Submitted by thenemesis97 on 3/6/2003
I have ridden this ride twice. Once last October and once last Saturday. I love this ride, but both times I rode, I was extremely dizzy afterwards and suffered from a horrible headache the rest of the day. I suggested to my kids that I may have suffered from a mild concussion. After reading this, I think I did. Three Advil did the trick when we got back to the hotel. -- Submitted by Pagegirl on 9/1/2006
No Date Reported - Revolution - Submitted by KariKane on 9/13/2003
It was sometime in 1996 a ride operator was crossing the track when the train started, she got caught under the train and passengers were riding the whole way with her body being dragged by the train.
This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.
Follow-up:
That is also load of crap I was that ride oporator that got stuck and they stopped the trian before it even got close to me. -- Submitted by rcfreak339 on 9/16/2006
In 1996, part-time employee Cherie LaMotte was killed while crossing the tracks of the Revolution roller coaster. She was struck by a train full of park visitors as it returned to the station; both passengers and those waiting in line for the ride saw LaMotte fly into an area beneath the coaster, and she was pronounced dead at the scene from massive injuries. -- Submitted by ajcadoo on 4/11/2007
I was next to board the coaster the day this happened. I will never forget the date. Here is an article I found confirming this incident (entered url below). With horrific images forever engrained in my head, I will never be able to bring myself to ride this simple coaster again. -- Submitted by cannonball on 9/19/2009
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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