Web site with accident info? 1987 SFGA Lightin' Loops death?
Stephen Jonke
I was wondering if there is a site on the web somewhere that has detailed
info on accidents that have occurred on rollercoasters? I looked on
www.rollercoaster.com but only found very brief reports in the "almanac".
Searching seemed to be broken so I couldn't do a search to see if there
was any more info I was missing.
One specific case I'm interested in is the death on the Lightnin' Loops at
Six Flags Great Adventure back in 1987 (now at Adventure World and called
the Python). What exactly happened? A friend of mine was apparently at
the park when it happened, but his info on what happened was purely
second-hand/rumour. Here's the brief note in the WoC almanac:
June 17, 1987: A woman is killed on the Lightnin' Loops roller coaster at
Six Flags Great Adventure. That coaster is now the Python at Adventure
World.
Steve
--
Stephen Jonke fun email: sjo...@jagunet.com
no-fun email: Stephe...@gsfc.nasa.gov
home page: http://www.jagunet.com/~sjonke
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Dave Torok
Stephen Jonke wrote:
>
> One specific case I'm interested in is the death on the Lightnin' Loops at
> Six Flags Great Adventure back in 1987 (now at Adventure World and called
> the Python). What exactly happened? A friend of mine was apparently at
> the park when it happened, but his info on what happened was purely
> second-hand/rumour. Here's the brief note in the WoC almanac:
>
> June 17, 1987: A woman is killed on the Lightnin' Loops roller coaster at
> Six Flags Great Adventure. That coaster is now the Python at Adventure
> World.
>
In 1987 I was going to Great Adventure about once per week, since
I had a season pass and lived about 30 minutes away. Here is what
I have heard/put together from several sources, including news
reports and talks with several employees. Note that I do not
present this as 100% confirmed fact; this is just what I have 'presumed'
based on the sources:
Guy and girlfriend are about to get on Lightning Loops. Girl does
not want to go, so she "steps through" and heads towards stairs down.
Guy gets on ride, and shoulder harnesses are lowered (including on
the empty seat).
Girl reconsiders and decides to ride, and gets back in the seat.
Unfortunately, the shoulder harnesses are racheted and do not open,
so girl is unable to get under the harness.
Ride crew dispatches ride, unaware that the girl is not secure.
The girl is thrown from the seat during the drop, but is caught
by the train and dragged between cars until near the top of the
loop, where she falls free.
That's what I've pieced together. I would appreciate factual
corrections.
--
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Dave Althoff
Stephen Jonke (sjo...@jagunet.com) wrote:
: I was wondering if there is a site on the web somewhere that has detailed
: info on accidents that have occurred on rollercoasters? I looked on
: www.rollercoaster.com but only found very brief reports in the "almanac".
: Searching seemed to be broken so I couldn't do a search to see if there
: was any more info I was missing.
I know someone is working on one...it should be up Real Soon Now. And no,
it isn't mine...I have nothing to do with it. And yes, it is very
comprehensive.
: One specific case I'm interested in is the death on the Lightnin' Loops at
: Six Flags Great Adventure back in 1987 (now at Adventure World and called
: the Python). What exactly happened? A friend of mine was apparently at
: the park when it happened, but his info on what happened was purely
: second-hand/rumour. Here's the brief note in the WoC almanac:
: June 17, 1987: A woman is killed on the Lightnin' Loops roller coaster at
: Six Flags Great Adventure. That coaster is now the Python at Adventure
: World.
I don't know anything first-hand about that, but in conversations with a
variety of people, reading reports off of the 'Net, and observing the ride
as it now operates at Adventure World, here's what I know.
I first read of this incident in a particularly alarmist magazine article
(something like "TERROR AT THE AMUSEMENT PARK!!!" or some such nonsense),
in which the author claimed that the restraint closed behind the victim.
The article went on to claim that as she screamed at the ride-ops, they
dispatched the train (this is an Arrow shuttle loop...down the runway,
through a mega-air-time drop, through a loop, up a mega-air-time hill, to
the far-end stop). According to the article, the computer sensed that all
of the restraints were closed and allowed the train to go.
This account is clearly inaccurate on several accounts. First of all,
anyone who has ever ridden in an Arrow multi-element train knows that
there is no way for the shoulder bar to close behind the rider, even on
the oldest trains. The only way for the bar to be closed behind the rider
is for the rider to attempt to sit on top of the bar after it has already
been closed.
Second, the computer has no way of sensing the position of the bar. On
the shuttle loop, there is a series of sensors on the platform, lined up
roughly with the center of each car of the parked train. These sensors
detect the position of the lap-bar release pedal as the train goes by. If
any of the sensors detects a pedal, the dispatch is aborted, the
pusher is retracted, and the train rolls back to the parked position. I
have seen this happen, actually, on Thunderbolt Express. (Note that the
pedal is down when the mechanism is released). For the computer to detect
anything at all, the dispatch process has to start. And since the bar was
properly locked, the computer didn't find anything wrong.
Third, I'm pretty sure that ride has co-dispach...in fact, the article
mentioned it. So two different operators had to approve the dispatch of
the train. Presumably, there were multiple attendants on the platform; I
am guessing that a standard form of signalling (i.e. "five thumbs") was
probably used. The upshot of all this is that for the accident to happen,
two operators and all of the platform attendants must have agreed to
dispatch the train. But for a rider to be sitting on top of the restraint
would be obviously wrong, so the only conclusion I can draw is that NOBODY
LOOKED AT THE TRAIN. The attendants probably gave each bar a tug before
the victim entered the train, and failed to notice the activity on the
platform, and so dispatched the train without looking at it. This is my
primary gripe with co-dispatch...each operator thinks that if there is
something wrong, the other operator will catch it, so both get complacent.
Anyway, the accident did result in a major change on all Arrow loopers at
Six-Flags.*, including Python: The Coaster Formerly Known as Lightnin'
Loops at Adventure World. The over-the-shoulder bars on the Six Flags
Arrow loopers are now orange, making them visually obvious, and they are
now equipped with enormous grab-bars that make them impossible to sit on.
Okay, so what can anyone add?
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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Robert Williams
Stephen Jonke wrote:
> One specific case I'm interested in is the death on the Lightnin' Loops at
> Six Flags Great Adventure back in 1987 (now at Adventure World and called
> the Python). What exactly happened?
I have the AP and UPI news stories of it on my other machine at home.
I'll pull them up and post them tonight, if possible.
Dave Torok
Hi Dave A.
I already posted my "non-first-person" account; but I'd like to
comment
on yours:
Dave Althoff wrote:
>
> This account is clearly inaccurate on several accounts. First of all,
> anyone who has ever ridden in an Arrow multi-element train knows that
> there is no way for the shoulder bar to close behind the rider, even on
> the oldest trains. The only way for the bar to be closed behind the rider
> is for the rider to attempt to sit on top of the bar after it has already
> been closed.
As I posted, what I've read & heard is that the girl had first decided
not
to ride, and then changed her mind & sat in the car, trying to raise the
restraint.
>
> Third, I'm pretty sure that ride has co-dispach...in fact, the article
> mentioned it. So two different operators had to approve the dispatch of
> the train. Presumably, there were multiple attendants on the platform; I
> am guessing that a standard form of signalling (i.e. "five thumbs") was
> probably used. The upshot of all this is that for the accident to happen,
> two operators and all of the platform attendants must have agreed to
> dispatch the train. But for a rider to be sitting on top of the restraint
> would be obviously wrong, so the only conclusion I can draw is that NOBODY
> LOOKED AT THE TRAIN. The attendants probably gave each bar a tug before
> the victim entered the train, and failed to notice the activity on the
> platform, and so dispatched the train without looking at it. This is my
> primary gripe with co-dispatch...each operator thinks that if there is
> something wrong, the other operator will catch it, so both get complacent.
In 1987, the operators seemed quite lax. While it's probable that there
were two attendants, I don't remember the big "thumbs up" signalling
until the year AFTER the accident. In addition, they added co-dispatch
buttons so that two people had to be pressing the "dispatch" buttons in
order
for a launch to occur. The second button was at the REAR of the
platform.
Great Adventure, at that time, had quite a few rides that were operated
by only
one staff member (e.g. Rotor, Scrambler). It is possible that Lightning
Loops
was also a 1-person operation during slow times. The year after the
accident,
EVERY ride was made a minimum 2-person operation, many with co-dispatch
buttons.
-=$>Dave<$=-
Orthobond
Here's what I was able to dig up from my archives.
06-17-87 09:07 ped
(JACKSON TOWNSHIP, New Jersey)_ A 19-year-old Pennsylvania girl plunged to
her death today from a roller coaster at the same amusement park where
eight young people died in a 1984 fire.
The Chester County girl, whose identity was NOT released...fell from the
Lightnin' Loops ride at the Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park in
Jackson Township, New Jersey ... about 50 miles southwest of New York.
Police say NO other injuries were reported.
Eight teenagers died and seven other people were injured at the same park
in 1984... when a fire swept through the Haunted Castle attraction.
06-17-87 09:20 ped
Pa.
Pennsylvania girl killed in amusement park accident
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (UPI) _ A 19-year-old Pennsylvania girl plunged to
her death Wednesday from a roller coaster at the same amusement park where
eight young people died in a 1984 fire in a Haunted Castle attraction,
police said.
Karen Anne Brown, 19, of Chester, Pa., a Philadelphia suburb, fell from
the Lightnin' Loops ride at the Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park
in Jackson Township, 50 miles southwest of New York City, Patrolman
Christopher Dunton of the Jackson Township police said.
Riders on the roller coaster, which zips over loops, are upside down part
of the time, Dunton said.
The girl was pronounced dead on arrival at the Freehold Area Hospital
shortly after the 3:45 p.m. accident, authorities said.
It was believed she had gone to the amusement park with her boyfriend,
Dunton said. No other injuries were reported.
Dunton estimated the Lightnin' Loops roller coaster is about 60 feet high.
Police and the Ocean County prosecutor's office were investigating the
accident, Dunton said.
"We're very upset that this has happened at Great Adventure," Donna
O'Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the amusement park, said in a statement.
"Lightnin' Loops has been closed and will remain closed until the
investigation has been completed."
She said the park was "cooperating completely" with the investigation by
state and local authorities.
The accident occurred at the same amusement park where eight teenagers
died and seven other people were injured May 11, 1984, in a fire that
swept the Haunted Castle attraction. All the victims were between the ages
of 15 and 18.
There were no smoke alarms or sprinklers in the attraction at the time of
the blaze. Seven of the bodies were found within 20 feet of an emergency
exit.
Charges of manslaughter and aggravated manslaughter were brought against
Great Adventure Inc. and its parent, Six Flags Corp., for alleged reckless
disregard of safety precautions.
A Superior Court jury in Toms River acquitted the companies of the charges
on July 20, 1985.
06-18-87 01:30 aed
pa.
Woman dies in roller coaster fall
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (UPI) _ A 19-year-old Pennsylvania woman plunged to
her death from a looping roller coaster at the same amusement park where a
1984 fire in the Haunted House attraction killed eight teenagers, police
said.
Karen Anne Brown of Chester, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, fell Wednesday
from the Lightnin' Loops ride at the Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement
Park in Jackson Township, 50 miles southwest of New York City, Patrolman
Christopher Dunton of the Jackson Township police said.
Riders on the roller coaster are taken upside-down at high speeds as the
cars spin through high loops, Dunton said. He estimated the Lightnin'
Loops ride is about 60 feet high.
Brown was dead on arrival at Freehold Area Hospital shortly after the 3:45
p.m. accident, hospital authorities said.
It was believed she had gone to the amusement park with her boyfriend, who
was not immediately identified, Dunton said. No other injuries were
reported.
Town and state police and the Ocean County prosecutor's office were
investigating the accident, Dunton said.
"We're very upset that this has happened at Great Adventure," said Donna
O'Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the amusement park. "Lightnin' Loops has
been closed and will remain closed until the investigation has been
completed."
The cause of the accident had yet to be determined when investigators
broke for the night early today, O'Sullivan said.
She said the park is "cooperating completely" with investigations by state
and local authorities. Amusement ride engineers from Six Flags Corp., the
park's parent company in Chicago, were being flown in to assist in the
investigation.
"Our people have interviewed a lot of witnesses. That includes ride
operators, people who were riding in the train and people who were waiting
in line for the ride," she said. Officials planned to open the park as
usual at 10 a.m. today.
"It was an isolated incident on this one particular ride," O'Sullivan
said. "We believe the investigation will not interfere with the operation
of other rides."
O'Sullivan said other amusement parks around the country also operate
Lightnin' Loops rides, but Six Flags did not order the rides taken out of
service at any of its facilities following Wednesday's accident.
The accident occurred at the same amusement park where eight teenagers
died and seven other people were injured May 11, 1984, in a fire that
swept the Haunted Castle attraction.
All the victims were between the ages of 15 and 18.
There were no smoke alarms or sprinklers in the attraction at the time of
the blaze. Seven bodies were found within 20 feet of an emergency exit.
Charges of manslaughter and aggravated manslaughter were brought against
Great Adventure Inc. and Six Flags Corp. for alleged reckless disregard of
safety precautions.
A Superior Court jury in Toms River acquitted the companies of the charges
on July 20, 1985.
06-18-87 06:34 ped
pa.
Coaster rider was unharnessed
JACKSON, N.J. (UPI) _ A woman killed in a 75-foot fall from a looping
roller coaster at Six Flags-Great Adventure amusement park was not
properly harnessed in when the ride began moving, investigators said
Thursday.
The victim, Karen Anne Brown, 19, of Chester, Pa., apparently was trying
to secure herself underneath an overhead metal safety bar Wednesday when
the "Lightnin' Loops" roller coaster departed the loading platform and
headed downhill, throwing her to her death, investigators said.
No charges had been filed against either Great Adventure or any employees
in connection with the accident, although the investigation was
continuing, said Michael Murray, spokesman for the Ocean County
prosecutor's office.
"At this point, our investigation has indicated no criminal negligence,
with the emphasis on criminal," Murray said.
The coaster ride, which features two intertwined 85-foot-high loops that
turn riders upside down, uses cars equipped with heavy metal U-shaped bars
that are designed to lower over the head and shoulders of each rider.
Brown was thrown out before her car turned over in the first loop, Murray
said.
The ride is not supposed to be able to start without all bars lowered in
place, but investigators were uncertain whether Brown's bar was not
lowered or whether she was somehow outside the harness, Murray said.
"Our investigation is continuing, and we're still waiting on a report from
the Department of Labor on the mechanics of the ride," Murray said.
The state Labor Department, which is responsible for inspecting all
amusement park rides in New Jersey, sent several investigators to examine
the ride Thursday, spokesman Martin Herman said.
The department had inspected the Lightnin' Loops ride earlier this spring
before the park opened for the season and found it was operating properly.
Herman said, however, that he was uncertain whether the inspection
included checking whether the ride would operate without the safety bars
in place.
Herman also said that, while the department watches each employee as they
operate the ride during inspections, it does not require licenses or
routinely monitor operators hired between inspections.
Murray said several operators were assigned to the Lightnin' Loops ride,
but he did not know whether any had been fired or suspended by Great
Adventure Wednesday or Thursday. The ride was taken out of operation
pending the results of the investigation.
Great Adventure spokesmen refused to comment on whether action had been
taken against any personnel and did not immediately comment on the
prosecutor's office report.
"Our investigation indicates that the victim was not secured in the safety
harness when the ride was in motion," Murray said. "She was attempting to
do so when ride began its downhill run, causing her to fall between the
cars."
Murray said his office's investigation was based on interviews with
several witnesses, including riders, operators and patrons waiting in line
at the time of the accident.
The riders included a man identified as Brown's boyfriend, Rick DePrince,
19, who reportedly told relatives that she was trying to harness herself
in when the ride began moving.
The Ocean County medical examiner's office reported Thursday that Brown
died of an avulsion of the brain due to massive skull fractures, Murray
said.
Although no charges were immediately filed, "we reserve the right to
change that pending further investigation," said Murray, who declined to
identify the ride operators or any possible targets of prosecution.
Brown was the fourth person to die on a ride at the amusement park,
located about 50 miles southwest of New York City, since it opened in
1974. In addition, eight people died in May 1984 when fire swept the
park's Haunted House attraction.
Great Adventure also attracted negative attention earlier this year when
one patron was shot and two stabbed in the park on Easter Sunday. The
theme park has since tightened security at its gates.
Although Six Flags Corp. has closed the Great Adventure roller coaster
ride pending results of the investigation, it has not closed similar
Lightnin' Loops rides at any of its other parks across the country, park
spokeswoman Donna O'Sullivan said.
A spokeswoman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and
Attractions, an Alexandria, Va., trade group representing about 500
permanently located parks worldwide, estimated there are about 100 roller
coasters in the United States that carry riders into an upside-down
position.
"The safety record is excellent and accidents are extremely rare," said
the NAAPA spokeswoman, Pat Duricka.
06-18-87 07:10 ped
pa.
JACKSON, N.J. (UPI) _ A woman killed in a 75-foot fall from a looping
roller coaster at Six Flags-Great Adventure amusement park was not
properly harnessed in her seat when the ride began moving, investigators
said Thursday.
The victim, Karen Anne Brown, 19, of Chester, Pa., apparently was trying
to secure herself with an overhead metal safety bar Wednesday when the
"Lightnin' Loops" roller coaster departed the loading platform and headed
downhill, throwing her to her death, investigators said.
No charges had been filed against either Great Adventure or any employees
in connection with the accident, although the investigation was
continuing, said Michael Murray, spokesman for the Ocean County
prosecutor's office.
"At this point, our investigation has indicated no criminal negligence,
with the emphasis on criminal," Murray said.
The coaster ride, which features two intertwined 85-foot-high loops that
turn riders upside down, uses cars equipped with heavy metal U-shaped bars
that are designed to lower over the head and shoulders of each rider.
Brown was thrown out before her car turned over in the first loop, Murray
said.
The ride is not supposed to be able to start without all bars lowered in
place, but investigators were uncertain whether Brown's bar was not
lowered or whether she was somehow outside the harness, Murray said.
"Our investigation is continuing, and we're still waiting on a report from
the Department of Labor on the mechanics of the ride," Murray said.
The state Labor Department, which is responsible for inspecting all
amusement park rides in New Jersey, sent several investigators to examine
the ride Thursday, spokesman Martin Herman said.
The department had inspected the Lightnin' Loops ride earlier this spring
before the park opened for the season and found it was operating properly.
Herman said, however, that he was uncertain whether the inspection
included checking whether the ride would operate without the safety bars
in place.
Great Adventure said Thursday its own mechanics had "ruled out"
mechanical, electrical and maintenance problems as possible causes of the
accident." The park, in a prepared statement, said it was still waiting
for the Labor Department to finish its investigation.
The park statement did not directly address the prosecutor's office
report, and a spokeswoman declined to answer questions.
Herman said that, while the Labor Department watches each employee as they
operate the ride during inspections, it does not require licenses or
routinely monitor operators hired between inspections.
Murray said several operators were assigned to the Lightnin' Loops ride,
but he did not know whether any had been fired or suspended by Great
Adventure Wednesday or Thursday. The ride was taken out of operation
pending the results of the investigation.
Great Adventure spokesmen refused comment on whether action had been taken
against any personnel.
"Our investigation indicates that the victim was not secured in the safety
harness when the ride was in motion," Murray said. "She was attempting to
do so when ride began its downhill run, causing her to fall between the
cars."
Murray said his office's investigation was based on interviews with
several witnesses, including riders, operators and patrons waiting in line
at the time of the accident.
The riders included a man identified as Brown's boyfriend, Rick DePrince,
19, who reportedly told relatives that she was trying to harness herself
in when the ride began moving.
The Ocean County medical examiner's office reported Thursday that Brown
died of an avulsion or tearing of the brain due to massive skull
fractures, Murray said.
Although no charges were immediately filed, "we reserve the right to
change that pending further investigation," said Murray, who declined to
identify the ride operators or any possible targets of prosecution.
Brown was the fourth person to die on a ride at the amusement park,
located about 50 miles southwest of New York City, since it opened in
1974. In addition, eight people died in May 1984 when fire swept the
park's Haunted House attraction.
Great Adventure also attracted negative attention earlier this year when
one patron was shot and two stabbed in the park on Easter Sunday. The
theme park has since tightened security at its gates.
Although Six Flags Corp. has closed the Great Adventure roller coaster
ride pending results of the investigation, it has not closed similar
Lightnin' Loops rides at any of its other parks across the country, park
spokeswoman Donna O'Sullivan said.
A spokeswoman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and
Attractions, an Alexandria, Va., trade group representing about 500
permanently located parks worldwide, estimated there are about 100 roller
coasters in the United States that carry riders into an upside-down
position.
"The safety record is excellent and accidents are extremely rare," said
the NAAPA spokeswoman, Pat Duricka.
06-18-87 07:27 ped
pa.
JACKSON, N.J. (UPI) _ New Jersey investigators say a looping roller
coaster car at Six Flags-Great Adventure amusement park started moving
before a Pennsylvania woman was safely locked in her seat, throwing her to
her death.
Investigators said Thursday that Karen Anne Brown, 19, of Chester, Pa.,
who plunged 75 feet to her death, apparently was trying to secure herself
with an overhead metal safety bar when the "Lightnin' Loops" roller
coaster pulled away from the loading platform and headed downhill.
"Our investigation indicates that the victim was not secured in the safety
harness when the ride was in motion," said Michael Murray, spokesman for
the Ocean County prosecutor's office. "She was attempting to do so when
ride began its downhill run, causing her to fall between the cars."
Murray said no charges had been filed against either Great Adventure or
any employees in connection with the accident, which happened Wednesday,
although the investigation was continuing.
"At this point, our investigation has indicated no criminal negligence,
with the emphasis on criminal," he said.
Members of Brown's family said they planned to file a negligence suit
against the amusement park.
The ride, which features two intertwined 85-foot-high loops that turn
riders upside down, uses cars equipped with heavy metal U-shaped bars that
are designed to lower over the head and shoulders of each rider. Brown was
thrown out before her car turned over in the first loop, Murray said.
The ride is not supposed to be able to start without all bars lowered in
place, but investigators were uncertain whether Brown's bar was not
lowered or whether she was somehow outside the harness, Murray said.
"Our investigation is continuing, and we're still waiting on a report from
the Department of Labor on the mechanics of the ride," Murray said.
The state Labor Department, which is responsible for inspecting all
amusement park rides in New Jersey, sent several investigators to examine
the ride Thursday, spokesman Martin Herman said.
The department had inspected the Lightnin' Loops ride earlier this spring
before the park opened for the season and found it was operating properly.
Herman said, however, that he was uncertain whether the inspection
included checking whether the ride would operate without the safety bars
in place.
Great Adventure said Thursday its own mechanics had "ruled out"
mechanical, electrical and maintenance problems as possible causes of the
accident." The park, in a prepared statement, said it was still waiting
for the Labor Department to finish its investigation.
The ride was taken out of operation pending the results of the
investigation.
Murray said his office's investigation was based on interviews with
several witnesses, including riders, operators and patrons waiting in line
at the time of the accident.
The Ocean County medical examiner's office reported Thursday that Brown
died of a tearing of the brain due to massive skull fractures, Murray
said.
Brown was the fourth person to die on a ride at the amusement park,
located about 50 miles southwest of New York City, since it opened in
1974. In addition, eight people died in May 1984 when fire swept the
park's Haunted House attraction.
Great Adventure also attracted negative attention earlier this year when
one patron was shot and two stabbed in the park on Easter Sunday. The
theme park has since tightened security at its gates.
Although Six Flags Corp. has closed the Great Adventure roller coaster
ride pending results of the investigation, it has not closed similar
Lightnin' Loops rides at any of its other parks across the country, park
spokeswoman Donna O'Sullivan said.
06-19-87 04:10 ped
pa.
Coaster victim's family plans suit
JACKSON, N.J. (UPI) _ The family of a woman killed in a 75-foot fall from
a looping roller coaster at Six Flags-Great Adventure amusement park is
preparing a lawsuit against the park, their attorney said Friday.
Lawyer Nicholas J. Emper of Media, Pa., will wait for New Jersey officials
to finish their investigation before deciding whether to file the suit on
behalf of Karen Anne Marie Brown, 19, of Chester, Pa., said Janis Yskamp,
an aide to Emper.
The Ocean County prosecutor's office has said it has found no evidence of
criminal negligence in connection with Brown's death, and Great Adventure
said it has not taken any disciplinary action against any employees.
Great Adventure spokeswoman Donna O'Sullivan declined, however, to discuss
any new assignments for the seven employees who were operating the
"Lightnin' Loops" roller coaster Wednesday afternoon when Brown died.
The roller coaster has been closed pending completion of the state
Department of Labor's investigation of the accident.
"We're not releasing their whereabouts," O'Sullivan said of the seven
employees.
Brown apparently was trying to secure herself underneath an overhead
U-shaped heavy metal padded safety bar when the roller coaster departed
the loading platform and headed downhill, throwing her to her death, said
Michael Murray, spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor's office.
The ride is not supposed to be able to start without all bars lowered and
locked into place, but investigators were uncertain whether Brown's bar
was not fully lowered or whether she was somehow outside the harness,
Murray said.
Yskamp said that based on interviews with witnesses _ including Brown's
boyfriend, Rick DePrince, 20, of Chester, who was sitting next to her _
her office believes Brown sat down without first pulling up the safety
bar.
Yskamp said Brown then tried pulling up the bar to get underneath it, but
she was apparently prevented from doing so because the ride was about to
begin and the bar had locked in the down position.
O'Sullivan said the park "cannot concur with that" version of the
accident, but was waiting for a report from the Labor Department, which is
responsible for inspecting all amusement park rides in New Jersey.
Emper is representing DePrince, who had been dating Brown for about four
years, and her parents, Richard and Stella Brown of Chester, Yskamp said.
Great Adventure said Thursday its own mechanics had "ruled out"
mechanical, electrical and maintenance problems as possible causes of the
accident.
Brown was the fourth person to die on a ride at the amusement park,
located about 50 miles southwest of New York City, since it opened in
1974. In addition, eight people died in May 1984 when fire swept the
park's Haunted House attraction.
06-19-87 10:26 ped
pa.
Coaster victim's family plans suit
JACKSON, N.J. (UPI) _ A lawyer for the family of a woman killed in a
75-foot fall from a looping roller coaster at Six Flags-Great Adventure
amusement park says the family may sue the park.
An aide to lawyer Nicholas J. Emper of Media, Pa., said Friday that Emper
will wait for New Jersey officials to finish their investigation before
deciding whether to file the suit on behalf of Karen Anne Marie Brown, 19,
of Chester, Pa.
The Ocean County prosecutor's office has said it has found no evidence of
criminal negligence in connection with Brown's death, and Great Adventure
said it has not taken any disciplinary action against any employees.
Great Adventure spokeswoman Donna O'Sullivan declined, however, to discuss
any new assignments for the seven employees who were operating the
"Lightnin' Loops" roller coaster Wednesday afternoon when Brown died.
"We're not releasing their whereabouts," O'Sullivan said of the seven
employees.
The roller coaster has been closed pending completion of the state
Department of Labor's investigation of the accident.
Brown apparently was trying to secure herself underneath an overhead
U-shaped heavy metal padded safety bar when the roller coaster departed
the loading platform and headed downhill, throwing her to her death, said
Michael Murray, spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor's office.
The ride is not supposed to be able to start without all bars lowered and
locked into place, but investigators were uncertain whether Brown's bar
was not fully lowered or whether she was somehow outside the harness,
Murray said.
Janis Yskamp, Emper's aide, said that based on interviews with witnesses _
including Brown's boyfriend, Rick DePrince, 20, of Chester, who was
sitting next to her _ her office believes Brown sat down without first
pulling up the safety bar.
Yskamp said Brown then tried pulling up the bar to get underneath it, but
she was apparently prevented from doing so because the ride was about to
begin and the bar had locked in the down position.
O'Sullivan said the park "cannot concur with that" version of the
accident, but was waiting for a report from the Labor Department, which is
responsible for inspecting all amusement park rides in New Jersey.
Emper is representing DePrince, who had been dating Brown for about four
years, and her parents, Richard and Stella Brown of Chester, Yskamp said.
Great Adventure said Thursday its own mechanics had "ruled out"
mechanical, electrical and maintenance problems as possible causes of the
accident.
Brown was the fourth person to die on a ride at the amusement park,
located about 50 miles southwest of New York City, since it opened in
1974. In addition, eight people died in May 1984 when fire swept the
park's Haunted House attraction.
10-07-87 05:07 ped
pa.
State faults Great Adventure in death of woman
By MATTHEW REILLY
UPI Statehouse Reporter
TRENTON, N.J. (UPI) _ A Pennsylvania woman killed in a fall from the Great
Adventure theme park's "Lightnin' Loops" roller coaster died because
employees did not ensure she was locked in before starting the ride, state
investigators said Wednesday.
The state Labor Department fined Great Adventure $1,000, the maximum
allowed under state law. The department's report said the ride was in
sound mechanical condition, but problems were found in the way it was
operated on the day Karen Anne Brown, 19, of Chester, Pa., was thrown to
her death.
Labor Commissioner Charles Serraino said the operators of the ride did not
make sure the passengers were properly seated and restrained before
starting the ride.
"Our investigation showed that the proper and approved operating
procedures were not strictly followed on the day of the accident,"
Serraino said.
"The machinery and the restraint mechanisms of the ride were operating
properly on June 17, but the procedures, which are designed to ensure that
passengers are properly seated and restrained before the ride begins, were
not completely followed," he said.
The department cited the amusement park for the failure of the ride
attendants to maintain control over the ride and failure to operate the
ride in accordance with the owner's manual. Each violation is punishable
by a $500 fine.
Assistant Commissioner William Clark said the department has given the
park approval to reopen the ride, which has been closed since the
accident.
"The park has revised operating procedures for the ride and has made some
modifications which we feel will improve the ride in the area of rider
safety," Clark said. "In addition, Great Adventure has taken steps to
ensure that all operators and attendants are thoroughly trained in the new
operating procedures."
Joseph Palazzone, chief inspector for the department's Office of Safety
Compliance, said Great Adventure has rewritten the operator's manual,
added attendants to help load passengers on the ride and painted the
safety harnesses bright orange so the operator can readily see if they are
not in place.
"We inspected the ride again last Thursday and Saturday and we're
satisfied it can be opened up," Palazzone said.
He also said the accident would not have happened had the operators
followed procedures outlined in the original manual.
"If it had been followed, this accident could not have occurred,"
Palazzone said.
Brown was riding the roller coaster with her boyfriend, Rick DePrince, 19.
She died of an avulsion of the brain caused by massive skull fractures.
The ride features two intertwined 85-foot loops that turn riders upside
down. Cars are equipped with heavy U-shaped metal bars designed to be
lowered over the head and shoulders of each rider and is not supposed to
be able to start until all safety bars have been lowered into place and
locked.
Brown was thrown out before the car turned upside down in the first loop.
Great Adventure said the day after the accident that it had ruled out
mechanical, electrical and maintenance problems as the cause of the
accident.
Brown was the fourth person to die on a ride at the amusement park since
it opened in 1974. In addition, eight people died in May 1984 when fire
swept the park's Haunted Castle attraction.
Great Adventure also attracted negative attention earlier this year when
one patron was shot and two stabbed on Easter Sunday. The park has since
tightened security at its gates.
New management installed at park since the accident announced it had
banned most alcohol sales at the park to combat rowdiness and restore the
park's image as a place for family entertainment. Park officials have also
decided to more rigorously enforce its dress code and not to open for
business next Easter.
Mike Yada
Dave Althoff wrote:
> This account is clearly inaccurate on several accounts. First of all,
> anyone who has ever ridden in an Arrow multi-element train knows that
> there is no way for the shoulder bar to close behind the rider, even on
> the oldest trains. The only way for the bar to be closed behind the rider
> is for the rider to attempt to sit on top of the bar after it has already
> been closed.
Dave,
I read an article that went into detail about the accident in a magazine. Right now I
don't remember which, but it was a major magazine like Popular Mechanics or Time or
something... they said exactly the same thing, that the restraint locked 'behind' the
rider. I, too, could not figure out how that could happen, but that's what the magazine
said. It would be interesting to find out the real story, or like you said, perhaps the
attendants never looked at the train. Anyway, the article said there was no way to stop
the ride mid-course because the ride was so short; when the train was dispatched the
girl was screeming but the ride operators were obviously helpless.
It seems to me that the article talked about two runs--interlocking loops, i.e. two
tracks that cross each other perpendicular. Is that correct, do you know??
Mike
>It seems to me that the article talked about two runs--interlocking loops, i.e. two
>tracks that cross each other perpendicular. Is that correct, do you know??
Yes it had two straight runs, perpendicular to each other, one higher
thatn the other. They interlocked very similar to the loops on the
Loch Ness Monster in BG VA.
I believe this coaster was one of the first looping coasters. Each
run was set up where you started at the top of the hill, a pulley
mechanism would pull you forwards. Then a drop down and through the
loop. The real fun was the trip back. Not because of going through
the loop backwards, but for me the drop was the best, backwards!!
Since you couldn't see the drop, it felt like the bottom was dropping
out!!
Mark
Alan Baldwin
He...@HereI.com (Mike) wrote:
> I believe this coaster was one of the first looping coasters. Each run
> was set up where you started at the top of the hill, a pulley mechanism
> would pull you forwards. Then a drop down and through the loop. The
> real fun was the trip back. Not because of going through the loop
> backwards, but for me the drop was the best, backwards!! Since you
> couldn't see the drop, it felt like the bottom was dropping out!!
That was really two separate standard Arrow 'launched loop' shuttle
coasters mounted at right angles to each other so the tracks of one
threaded through the other - nice idea.
We still have a single Arrow launched loop running at Blackpool Pleasure
Beach and I agree with everything you say about anticipating the
backwards drop down then into the loop. Shame is its such a short ride
after having climbed all the stairs to the top of the tower! Would be
nice to be given two or three runs without leaving the train.
Incidentally the train isn't pulled by a pulley but is actually pushed
by a small truck to accelerate it round the loop (it wouldn't make it by
gravity alone since each drop is almost exactly equal to the loop height).
AlanB, Manchester, England.
WWG - World Wide Guide to Parks,Coasters,Rides,Tech. & Topics
http://www.demon.co.uk/arvis/wwg/
-------------------------------------------------------------
danip...@gmail.com
It gave the place, the park, the year the name and age of the girl.. Only it said Mary-Ann was her name.. Karen Anne Marie.. Closish.
The girl was regressed and gave this info.. She was with friends and was trying to fit in... This is debunked, apparently, by the fact that the bf was there.. They had apparently dared her to ride without the harness and had flirted with the attendant whilst hiding the fact that 'Karen' wasn't harnessed. They promised to hold onto her.. But once they reached the top of the loop (also debunked by the fact that she didn't make it to the loop? I can't picture the ride, so I'm not sure if that's on point or not?), they screamed hang on, as they let go of her.. She describes being slowly forced over the hand bars and tips over into space, drops, 'then bang, there's just a bright white light and I'm gone from there'.... Quite chilling. I hope that's not what happened and it was covered up by the bf or something.
Who knows?
Can you post pics on here? I could post a pic of the "article".
GodsOnSafari
Anyways, here's a picture of an Arrow Shuttle Loop, which Lightnin' Loops had two of, interconnected at the loop.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cVF2LlOx6Zc/TGm9goi3NyI/AAAAAAAANRQ/GAN5p41uMYs/s1600/Picture+14.png
The trains utilized had over the shoulder harnesses, sometimes referred to as horsecollars. A picture of one can be seen closer to present day here:
http://www.guidetosfot.com/attractions/coasters/flashback/images/firstlift2.jpg
It is pretty much impossible for the attendants to have checked restraints and somehow not noticed the restraint not being in the down and locked position. They don't individually open - there's a foot pedal on the back of the cars which opens and closes all the restraints on a particular car. Once dropped, the restraint generally stays in the closed or down position if all the other seats in the car are in the same boat. There also isn't a safety bar in the front of an Arrow car, and there really isn't one for the back seat of the car over.
Fun story to see someone give a psychic, but the details are all wrong.
Dave Althoff, Jr.
: On Sunday, July 27, 2014 11:35:39 PM UTC-4, danip...@gmail.com wrote:
:
: The trains utilized had over the shoulder harnesses, sometimes referred
: here:
:
: http://www.guidetosfot.com/attractions/coasters/flashback/images/firstlift2.jpg
:
: It is pretty much impossible for the attendants to have checked
: restraints and somehow not noticed the restraint not being in the down
: and locked position. They don't individually open - there's a foot pedal
: on the back of the cars which opens and closes all the restraints on a
: particular car. Once dropped, the restraint generally stays in the closed
: or down position if all the other seats in the car are in the same boat.
: There also isn't a safety bar in the front of an Arrow car, and there
: really isn't one for the back seat of the car over.
the Lightnin' Loops incident. Originally, those bars were black, much
smaller, and did not have the giant grab bars on them. In fact I have been
on older trains that did not have grab bars on them at all! So it very much
would be possible to sit on top of the closed restraint, and if you were
wearing a black shirt on a busy day, an inattentive attendant could even
miss it.
"Besides, the computer won't let it go unless all the bars are locked
anyway."
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
/X\ _ *** Respect rides. They do not respect you. ***
/XXX\ /X\ /X\_ _ /X\__ _ _ _____
/XXXXX\ /XXX\ /XXXX\_ /X\ /XXXXX\ /X\ /X\ /XXXXX
the body of your message for a quicker response.
susanwe...@gmail.com
> I was wondering if there is a site on the web somewhere that has detailed
> info on accidents that have occurred on rollercoasters? I looked on
> www.rollercoaster.com but only found very brief reports in the "almanac".
> Searching seemed to be broken so I couldn't do a search to see if there
> was any more info I was missing.
>
> Six Flags Great Adventure back in 1987 (now at Adventure World and called
> the park when it happened, but his info on what happened was purely
> second-hand/rumour. Here's the brief note in the WoC almanac:
>
> June 17, 1987: A woman is killed on the Lightnin' Loops roller coaster at
> Six Flags Great Adventure. That coaster is now the Python at Adventure
> World.
>
>
> --
> Stephen Jonke fun email: sjo...@jagunet.com
> no-fun email: Stephe...@gsfc.nasa.gov
> home page: http://www.jagunet.com/~sjonke
>
> ********************************************************************
> ** Join the FSPA - Central Maryland and DC's league pinball **
> ** http://www.wam.umd.edu/~bvs/FSPA/ **
> ********************************************************************
TC10K
People falling out, trains colliding, etc
"Friday, May 23, 1997 - A 14-year-old girl died after she rode a looping roller coaster at an amusement park in Aurora, Ohio. The girl was asthmatic. Investigators concluded that her asthma attack was not related to the operation of the ride."
That one shouldn't even be on there. If she'd had an asthma attack on an airplane and died, would it be on a website devoted to deaths from plane crashes?
tyl...@gmail.com
> That one shouldn't even be on there. If she'd had an asthma attack on an airplane and died, would it be on a website devoted to deaths from plane crashes?
TC10K
Daton Ray
> This wouldn't have been the pilot, just a passenger.
