Officials: Poor Maintenance, Operator Error to Blame for 'Superman' Injury
Hat Tip to Torts Prof Blog for its coverage of the State .jpg)
of
Kentucky's investigation into the cause of the June 2007 accident in which a teenager lost both of her feet on the 'Superman: Tower of Power' ride at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom theme park after a cable snapped.
According to the report:
The State of Kentucky fined the park . . . $1,000.
of Kentucky's investigation into the cause of the June 2007 accident in which a teenager lost both of her feet on the 'Superman: Tower of Power' ride at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom theme park after a cable snapped.
According to the report:
"The cause of the cable failure has been determined to be fatigue, a progressive failure of the mechanism. The cable on the ride was in a condition that caused the cable to fail under its normal load in operation. It is impossible to scientifically determine how long the cable had been in a condition that could lead to the failure of the cable under its normal load. The cables when new are rated to carry at least six times the load placed upon them during normal ride operation. Maintenance records provided by SFKK indicate the cable units and switches were last checked on June 14, 2007, and “no further action was needed.” However, based on expert opinion, the deteriorating condition of the cable would have been detected using the procedures outlined in the newer ride manual.The KDA report included this chilling synopsis of a statement that it was given by the main ride operator:
* * *
The extent of progressive (fatigue) cracking would have made it possible for the
park personnel to detect the deteriorating condition of the rope had they been
following the inspect ion instructions given in the maintenance manual.
* * *
The considered opinion of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is the cable condition and ride operator response were the largest factors contributing to the injuries of the ride patron."
- The group of three girls rode the ride once without incident. When that ride cycle had ended, the girls got to ride again because there was no line. I remember the same three seats were used the second trip. The seats were checked and the all clear was given. The ride went up.
- After about two seconds I heard a noise like a rollercoaster chain clack. The ride was about eight feet off the ground. When I looked up the cord came out; the cord was flying about. The noise and the cable coming out happened at the same time.
- I called #3333; the park phone number for emergencies. The person answering the phone asked what was going on.
- I reached my head out and around the operator station while I was explaining the situation to the lady on the phone. I told the lady on the phone that the guests were screaming. I was not sure what the people on the ride were screaming due to the volume of noise in the park.
- The lady on the phone said it was normal for riders to scream. I said the screaming was totally different this time because all the riders were screaming.
- I can’t remember what the lady on the telephone was saying. I could see the top of the ride. The other ride operator, at the other panel, told me to hit Estop.
- I hit Estop, but the ride came down normally.
- I noticed a shoe had fallen on the blue covering. I saw the injured girl. I noticed she was blinking. The injured girl had shifted down in her seat, and had a leg up in the air. At first I thought the injured girl was dead, because she was so far down in the seat. I walked over to make sure she wasn’t dead.
- I was still on the phone. I was screaming. The lady on the phone asked questions and tried to get me to calm down.
- Several people came running through the gate and through the line, and began yelling at me. When I hit the Estop that caused the harness system to remain closed. People were yelling at me to let them out, but I needed a technician to do that.
- The other ride operator was screaming, and she left the ride.
- Some woman came up and called the police. The lady on the telephone with me hung up the phone to call for first aid. I then hung up the phone.
- A man named Lou came and got me. Lou took me to Katie; and Rachel took me to the rides office about five to ten minutes after the accident. People talked to me and I gave a statement. The park employees had to find the other ride operator.
The State of Kentucky fined the park . . . $1,000.
