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» roller coaster accidents

  • Roller Coasters on the Move in 2010

    Written by The Coaster Critic 13 Comments
    Last Updated: January 29, 2010
    Roller Coasters on the Move in 2010
    Everyone does a ‘New Roller Coasters List’ (my official Top 10 of 2010 is coming up), but what about the new-ish roller coasters. Quite often there’s a shell game happening behind the scenes with rides and roller coasters being swapped, recycled, re-themed, and given a new life at a different park. Just like used cars, or should I say ‘pre-owned’, they’re new to...
    • Xcelerator Accident @ Knotts Berry Farm

      Written by The Coaster Critic 9 Comments
      Last Updated: September 19, 2009
      Xcelerator Accident @ Knotts Berry Farm
      Xcelerator Accident @ Knotts Berry Farm In a pretty scary accident, a cable on the Xcelerator at Knotts Berry Farm snapped injuring two riders. Making the incident even worse for the Los Angeles area park, a video of the accident was posted on YouTube and it’s “gone viral”. Xcelerator is a launch coaster sending riders from 0 to 82 mph in 2.5 seconds. Immediately after the launch...
      • Riders Stranded on Invertigo Coaster for Hours

        Written by The Coaster Critic 4 Comments
        Last Updated: August 11, 2009
        Riders Stranded on Invertigo Coaster for Hours
        Riders Stranded on Invertigo at California’s Great America Yesterday, 24 riders found themselves stuck on Invertigo at California’s Great America (Santa Clara, CA) for over four hours. The inverted shuttle coaster features trains fixed below the ride’s steel track. The ride begins with the 28 passenger train being pulled up out of the back of the station and into the ride’s...
        • Roller Coaster Accident Injures 11 Children in New York City

          Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
          Last Updated: July 27, 2009
          Roller Coaster Accident Injures 11 Children in New York City
          On Sunday, a kiddie roller coaster known as a Dragon Wagon tipped over injuring 11 children at a New York Church Festival in the Bronx. The Wisdom Rides Dragon Wagon is a portable roller coaster that seems to be using a trailer as its base or station. Some smaller parks have permanently installed the ride. Below, I inserted an overhead shot of a Dragon Wagon at the Michael Jackson’s Neverlan...
          • Monorail Crash at Walt Disney World

            Written by The Coaster Critic 9 Comments
            Last Updated: July 5, 2009
            Monorail Crash at Walt Disney World
            A monorail crashed into another stationary monorail around 2 A.M. Sunday morning at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The crash killed one of the train operators. More from the Associated Press: Two monorail trains crashed early Sunday morning in the Magic Kingdom section of Walt Disney World, killing one train’s operator, emergency officials said. The monorail operator died at the scen...
            • Man Hit By Roller Coaster at Magic Mountain

              Written by The Coaster Critic 4 Comments
              Last Updated: September 1, 2008
              Man Hit By Roller Coaster at Magic Mountain
              Man Hit by Ninja at Six Flags Magic MountainOver the weekend, a man was hit by a roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain. According to the man’s brother-in-law, he was trying to retrieve a hat that he lost on a nearby ride. This sounds a lot like the fatal accident at Six Flags Over Georgia earlier this summer. Just like that accident, you really can’t blame Six Flags as the man tre...
              • What is a Stand-Up Roller Coaster?

                Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                Last Updated: August 25, 2008
                What is a Stand-Up Roller Coaster?
                What is a Stand-Up Roller Coaster? Stand-up roller coasters are steel roller coasters designed so that the riders stand during the course of the ride. Riders straddle a bicycle-like seat that adjusts for the riders height and are restrained by over-the-shoulder restraints. They are very similar to seated looping coasters and some roller coasters designed for sit-down trains have also added stand-u...
                • Fire Burns Down Haunted House @ Six Flags America

                  Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
                  Last Updated: August 1, 2008
                  Fire Burns Down Haunted House @ Six Flags America
                  Haunted House Burns Down at Six Flags AmericaSix Flags America, located just east of Washington DC, has had its share of accidents in the past few years. Riders have been stuck on the Two Face roller coaster three times in the last 2 years. And last August a girl fell from a flat ride. This doesn’t include the criminal activity that has occurred at the park. Six Flags America Had A Haunted H...
                  • Teen Decapitated by Roller Coaster at Six Flags

                    Written by The Coaster Critic 5 Comments
                    Last Updated: June 29, 2008
                    Teen Decapitated by Roller Coaster at Six Flags
                    Horrifying Accident at Six Flags Over Georgia, Teen DecapitatedA tragedy occurred at Six Flags Over Georgia on Saturday when a 17 year old boy was killed when he was struck by a roller coaster. Two teens had left the park for lunch and then returned. Instead of going back through the main gate they took a shortcut by jumping two six foot fences and entering a restricted area near Batman – Th...
                    • Riders Stranded on Knotts Berry Farm Ride

                      Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                      Last Updated: June 24, 2008
                      Riders Stranded on Knotts Berry Farm Ride
                      Riders Stranded on Sky Cabin at Knotts Berry FarmThe sky cabin is a 225-foot observation tower at Knotts Berry Farm near Los Angeles. Sunday night, 24 passengers were stranded on the ride when it was about 50 feet above the ground. Firefighters rescued the riders after a 2 hour scare. No injuries were reported. More at the LA Times. Have you ever ridden the Sky Cabin at Knotts? Have you ever been ...
                      • Accident @ Cedar Point | Wildcat Injures Nine

                        Written by The Coaster Critic 5 Comments
                        Last Updated: May 25, 2008
                        Accident @ Cedar Point | Wildcat Injures Nine
                        Accident on Cedar Point’s Wildcat, Nine Treated for Minor Injuries Cedar Point’s off to a bit of a rocky start with the first roller coaster accident of the season. A car on the Wildcat rolled back into the station as it was ascending the lift hill. IT slammed into several cars in the station. Thankfully, injuries were minor. Nine people were treated for bruises and sprains at the park...
                        • Man Dies After Riding Expedition Everest @ Disney’s Animal Kingdom

                          Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                          Last Updated: December 18, 2007
                          Man Dies After Riding Expedition Everest @ Disney’s Animal Kingdom
                          Man Dies After Riding Roller Coaster at Walt Disney WorldToday, a man died after riding the Expedition Everest roller coaster at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. The 44-year-old man was unresponsive when the ride was over. He was given CPR and pronounced dead at a hospital. Apparently, he had no visible signs of injury. An autopsy will be conducted to see if the man had pre-existing medi...
                          • Riders Stuck on Two Face Roller Coaster Again!

                            Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                            Last Updated: October 7, 2007
                            Riders Stuck on Two Face Roller Coaster Again!
                            Chronic Breakdown Coaster Two Face Breaks Down AgainTwo Face: The Flip Side broke down again this weekend at Six Flags America located near Washington D.C. This is almost not even news. This is at least the third break down in 2 years for the shuttle roller coaster. This time riders were stranded 10 stories in the air for two hours. More at the Washington Post. ...
                            • Girl Falls from Ride at Six Flags America

                              Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                              Last Updated: August 5, 2007
                              Girl Falls from Ride at Six Flags America
                              6-Year Old Girl Falls from Ride | Six Flags America There was yet another accident at a theme park. Last Friday, a child fell from the “Octopus” at Six Flags America in Largo, MD. Thankfully, her injuries were not life threatening. She suffered hip, leg, and head injuries, but is expected to be fine. Apparently the 6-year old girl stood up on the ride just as it was starting to move. P...
                              • Cedar Fair Closes Drop Rides

                                Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
                                Last Updated: June 23, 2007
                                Cedar Fair Closes Drop Rides
                                Drop Rides Shutdown at Cedar Fair ParksThe Associated Press has reported that the Drop Zone, a drop tower ride at Kings Dominion has been closed as a result of the accident involving a girls feet being severed on a drop ride at a Six Flags park. Cedar Fair has ordered similar rides closed at the Paramount parks it acquired last year. As a safety precaution drop rides at Kings Island (Cincinnati, O...
                                • Girls Feet Cut Off @ Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom

                                  Written by The Coaster Critic 24 Comments
                                  Last Updated: June 21, 2007
                                  Girls Feet Cut Off @ Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
                                  Girls Feet Severed on Thrill Ride at Louisville Six Flags Needless to say, this season hasn’t been without its share of amusement park accidents. This most recent incident is by far the most gruesome. On Thursday, a 13-year old girl had her feet severed while riding Superman Power of Tower at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville. The Power of Tower is a drop ride that stands 177 feet tal...
                                  • Timber Tower Accident at Dollywood

                                    Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                                    Last Updated: June 18, 2007
                                    Timber Tower Accident at Dollywood
                                    Timber Tower Strands Riders for Hours“Forty four guests were stranded on Dollywood’s Timber Tower amusement ride Saturday night as the attraction was beginning its cycle. According to sources, the passenger vehicle became stuck at the top of the tower, causing the ride’s emergency safety system to engage. The passengers remained at the top of the tower for nearly three hours whil...
                                    • X Coaster Leaves Riders Hanging | Roller Coaster Accidents

                                      Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
                                      Last Updated: June 11, 2007
                                      X Coaster Leaves Riders Hanging | Roller Coaster Accidents
                                      X Coaster at Magic Springs Hangs Rider 150′ In the AirMagic Springs & Crystal Falls (Hot Springs, Arkansas) was the site of an unnerving scene on Sunday. A Maurer Söhne X-Car Coaster named X Coaster left 12 riders suspended upside down 150 feet up, when the park experienced a power outage. The riders were upside down for 30 minutes until firefighters were able to rescue them with a lad...
                                      • Accident on Magnum XL-200 @ Cedar Point

                                        Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                                        Last Updated: May 30, 2007
                                        Accident on Magnum XL-200 @ Cedar Point
                                        The 2007 season has been a bit rocky for Cedar Point. First, Maverick’s opening was delayed and now there was an accident on the park’s marquee roller coaster, Magnum XL-200. One train rear-ended another after it wasn’t stopped by the final brakes. I hope that they’re able to figure out what caused the accident and fix it. Magnum XL-200 is nothing short of a roller coaster ...
                                        • Roller Coaster Accident at Expoland

                                          Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
                                          Last Updated: May 6, 2007
                                          Roller Coaster Accident at Expoland
                                          1 dies, 21 injured at Expoland in JapanThe Washington Post reported that there was an accident at Expoland an amusement park in Osaka, Japan. An axle on the Togo Stand Up coaster known as Fujin Raijin II broke. Pictures of the coaster can be found here. This is not the first roller coaster death on a Togo Stand Up. In 1999, a rider was killed on Shockwave at Kings Dominion. That accident was ruled...
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