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Deaths At Kings Island


Dane
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I was on top of the Eiffel Tower when the man got killed, it was May 13th 1983 (Friday the 13th even)

I was on top of the tower with a girl I went to school with (it was Grad Night), they never told us what was happening.

We were up there for about 1-1/2 hours...you could look over the rail and see that the tower was roped off, and emergency vehicles where there, along with lots of people surrounding the tower, trying to see what was going on I suppose...

Finally the attendant unlocked a door, and we went down a flight of stairs to the lower obsevation deck, and took the other elevator down.

Their were lots of rumors floating around about what had happened, but they all ageed that someone had died on the tower.

That's a night I'll always remember.....Still think about it when I visit the park, and go up on the Tower....

 

Huck

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  • 2 weeks later...

I was on top of the Eiffel Tower when the man got killed, it was May 13th 1983 (Friday the 13th even)

I was on top of the tower with a girl I went to school with (it was Grad Night), they never told us what was happening.

We were up there for about 1-1/2 hours...you could look over the rail and see that the tower was roped off, and emergency vehicles where there, along with lots of people surrounding the tower, trying to see what was going on I suppose...

Finally the attendant unlocked a door, and we went down a flight of stairs to the lower obsevation deck, and took the other elevator down.

Their were lots of rumors floating around about what had happened, but they all ageed that someone had died on the tower.

That's a night I'll always remember.....Still think about it when I visit the park, and go up on the Tower....

 

Huck

 

Thanks for your point of view on that. I didn't think about the people on the tower at the time, I'd only thought about the people in the elevators.

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Mrs. Gator and I often have this conversation. She says that my mom's minivan is green, but GatorGirl and I say it's blue.

 

According to half of the customers at Coney's ring fling game, the bottle for the major prize is blue.

According to half of the customers at Coney's ring fling game, the bottle for the major prize is green.

I still can't figure which one it is. I usually refer to it as "the Colored Bottle" so that it does not arouse any arguments.

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EDIT: Pretty much all of this is wrong. Check out kingsislandghosts.blogspot.com for the full, accurate stories.

Sorry if this has already been written about, but here is Kings Island's death tally: In 1976, a 20 year old ranger on Lion Country Safari, John McCann, ran from his jeep into the lion area without his shotgun to use the bathroom. He was mauled by the lions and died on the spot.
1983: Tower Johnny. I already covered this in greater detail here: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php/topic/31433-clearing-up-tower-johnny/
1986: a 26 year old man dives into the Royal Fountains from the bandstand. He breaks his neck and dies.
1989: 39 year old Thomas Cahill is a park employee walking through the parking lot to get back to his car in a thunder storm-while carrying his tuba. He is struck by lightning and dies.
1991: 20 year old William Haithcoat and 20 year old park security guard Darrell Robertson are electrocuted by a faulty aerator pump in the Oktoberfest Pond trying to save 22 year old Timothy Benning, who survived the incident. 37 minutes later, 32 year old Candy Taylor, who is riding on Fight Commander passes out (she was very, very drunk), slides beneath her restraints into the unnocupied seat next her and falls to her death.
2003: A woman has a heart attack on Top Gun (now The Bat) and died the next day in the hospital.
2009: A man has a heart attack on Firehawk and dies later that day in a hospital.
One story that I have heard but I cannot validate was that a six year old boy died of natural causes in 1978 while riding what's now Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown.
Kings Island is a very safe place. Most of the incidents above were blamed on the victim. If I have made any errors, feel free to correct me. Sorry if this has already been covered on this thread before, but I love clearing up the truths on things.
-Ghost Guy
EDIT: in 2007, a man died in the hospital a day after riding Son of Beast. He had a pre-existing medical condition.

SECOND EDIT: The man who died a week after diving into the Royal Fountains was named Mark Beckman, Thomas "Cahill"'s last name is correctly spelled "Cahall", and he was struck by lightning in the employee parking lot, not the regualr parking lot as I had earlier assumed.

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I don't see a fight being picked; I see a new member who appears to have great interest in the park's history, and wants to contribute to this community in a way that is engaging and thought-provoking, if not delicate - especially in light of how respectful we must be when bringing up tragic subject matter in a public forum. My sincere recommendation would be to carefully review this site's content and, when you come across any of the existing info, courteously quote the original poster, and then reply to the quote in a conversational manner, which will nurture further discussion, perhaps with newer viewpoints or perspectives.

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Here are all of my sources.

 

“Fatal Freak Accidents at Kings Island Probed”(1991, June 11) Greene County Observer-Reporter. Pages A1 and A2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19910611&id=3LFdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uF0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5705,1640160&hl=en

 

“Teen Dies From Fall at Amusement Park” (1983, May 16) The Bryan Times. Page A1. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19630510&id=eZJPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mVEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4078,4112870&hl=en

 

“Kings Island Accidents Fatal to Three” (1991, June 10) The Pittsburgh Press. Page A4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19910610&id=CR0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_GMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2073,6700111&hl=en

 

“Lions Kill ‘Safari’ Ranger” (1976, July 26) Florence Times. Page A8 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19760726&id=2xosAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FckEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5177,4364663&hl=en

 

“Amusement Park is Fined $23,500 in Pond Deaths” (1991, July 17) Park City Daily News. Page 3A. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=19910716&id=wvEaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xkcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2873,2649358&hl=en

 

“Part of Ohio Park Closed; Three Deaths Investigated” (1991, June 11) The Pittsburgh Press, Page A7. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19910610&id=CR0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_GMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3996,6838532&hl=en

 

“Ex-Toledoan One of Three Killed in Two Accidents at Kings Island” (1991, June 10) The Toledo Blade, Page A1.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19910610&id=kdQpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JQMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2254,2742860&hl=en

 

“2 Kings Island Fatalities Preventable, OSHA Says” (1991, June 13) Pittsburgh Press, Page A16 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19910612&id=Ch0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_GMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2875,7943016&hl=en

 

“Restraints Faulty on Ride on Which Woman Died” (1991, July 26) Toledo Blade, Page 3 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19910726&id=u0dPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DgMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2250,6594339&hl=en

 

“Alcohol Factor Studied in Fatal Plunge at Park” (1991, June 16) Toledo Blade, Page A8 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19910616&id=l9QpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JQMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5924,4291668&hl=en

 

“Safety Changes Made on Park Ride” (1992, March 24) Toledo Blade, Page 9 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19920324&id=gFpPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RAMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5398,6377180&hl=en

 

“Amusement Park Fatal Accidents Don’t Deter Visitors” (1991, June 11) Bowling Green Daily News, Page A7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=19910611&id=QxkhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m0cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6723,2943537&hl=en

 

“Services Wednesday” (1983, May 17) Bryan Times, Page 5 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19830517&id=gZJPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mVEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1475,4232633&hl=en

 

“Ranger Killed in Lion Park” (1976, July 26) Milwaukee Journal, Page 3 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19760726&id=RPwjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jH4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4136,2824289&hl=en

 

“Lions Fatally Attack Ranger” (1976, July 26) Ludington Daily News, Page 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19760724&id=-l8vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2dwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5723,1757128&hl=en

 

“Causes Sought in Amusement Park Deaths” (1991, June 11) Toledo Blade, Page 13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19910610&id=kdQpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JQMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4334,2974430&hl=en

 

“Death at Graduation Party” (1983, May 15) New York Times, Page Number Unknown. http://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/15/us/death-at-graduation-party.html

 

“Despite Recent Deaths, Parks Say Rides are Safe” (1991, August 6) Deseret News, Page Number Unknown. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/176541/DESPITE-RECENT-DEATHS-PARKS-SAY-RIDES-ARE-SAFE.html?pg=all

 

“Three Die in Mishaps at Ohio Fun Park Over Weekend” (1991, June 11) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Page 2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X-4NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b24DAAAAIBAJ&dq=candy+taylor&pg=4338,2702514&hl=en

 

“Key Moments in the Park’s History” (2001, day and month unknown) Cincinnati Enquirer, page number unknown. http://enquirer.com/editions/2001/04/06/KIbox598x938.jpg

 

“3 Die at Kings Island-2 Were Electrocuted, One Killed in Fall” (1991, June 10) Cincinnati Post, page 1A. Found on infoweb.newsbank.com

 

“3 Die, One Hurt at Park-Electrocution, Fall, at Kings Island” (1991, June 10) Dayton Daily News, Page 1A. Found on infoweb.newsbank.com

 

“Kings Island Deaths Baffle Park Officials-Investigators Study Ride, Pond Area to Uncover Causes” (1991, June 11) Columbus Dispatch, Page 1A. Found on infoweb.newsbank.com

 

“Kings Island Ranger Killed by Lion; Found in Park Safari Section” (1976, July 25) Toledo Blade, Page A2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19760725&id=IbQyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TQIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3932,940660&hl=en

 

“Ranger Killed by Lion had been Injured Previously” (1976, July 28) Park City Daily News, Page 38. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=19760728&id=FMAaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=10YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6820,3531594&hl=en

 

“Amusement Park Injury Rate Low, Study Shows-A Freakish Series of Events” (1991, June 11) The Columbus Dispatch, Page 6C. Found on infoweb.newsbank.com

 

“Delaware Teen Falls to Death at Kings Island” (1983, May 15) The Columbus Dispatch, Page 1C.

 

“Fall Victim May Have Been Seeking Thrill” (1983, May 16) The Columbus Citizen-Journal, Page 19.

 

“Track Star Remembered as Gentle Giant off the Field” (1983, May 16) The Columbus Dispatch, Page 1B.

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This is seriously the thread that will never die.

But interesting as the Internet progresses how much easier if it's too find out information on the past then word of mouth and scanning old articles at the library.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

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Kighostguy: Very good job. Most impressive.

That being said, as I said earlier, in many cases Shaggy's sources are more authoritative than any newspaper account.

You must remember some of us here were alive and even at or with the park when these incidents occurred.

Early on at this site, when I would relate events at the park from my own personal recollection, younguns would insist on a contemporaneous website cite (!?) as proof.

That being said, there is much to be said for contemporaneous accounts. They are not affected by passage of time, changed memories, etc. Still, they were and are affected by what the park wanted released, errors frequently made during early reporting of incidents, rumors reported as facts, etc.

There is a reason historians are attracted to, yet disdainful of, oral history.

Oral history. Media accounts. Each has pluses. Neither is gospel.

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Kighostguy: Very good job. Most impressive.

That being said, as I said earlier, in many cases Shaggy's sources are more authoritative than any newspaper account.

You must remember some of us here were alive and even at or with the park when these incidents occurred.

Early on at this site, when I would relate events at the park from my own personal recollection, younguns would insist on a contemporaneous website cite (!?) as proof.

That being said, there is much to be said for contemporaneous accounts. They are not affected by passage of time, changed memories, etc. Still, they were and are affected by what the park wanted released, errors frequently made during early reporting of incidents, rumors reported as facts, etc.

There is a reason historians are attracted to, yet disdainful of, oral history.

Oral history. Media accounts. Each has pluses. Neither is gospel.

Terpy, I agree. However, all the newspaper accounts report that John McCann and John Harter were pronounced dead on the spot. The reason why the victims of Black Sunday were not pronounced dead on the spot were because when they were lifted into helicopters, they were breathing. You do have an excellent point, though.

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Kighostguy: Very good job. Most impressive.

That being said, as I said earlier, in many cases Shaggy's sources are more authoritative than any newspaper account.

You must remember some of us here were alive and even at or with the park when these incidents occurred.

Early on at this site, when I would relate events at the park from my own personal recollection, younguns would insist on a contemporaneous website cite (!?) as proof.

That being said, there is much to be said for contemporaneous accounts. They are not affected by passage of time, changed memories, etc. Still, they were and are affected by what the park wanted released, errors frequently made during early reporting of incidents, rumors reported as facts, etc.

There is a reason historians are attracted to, yet disdainful of, oral history.

Oral history. Media accounts. Each has pluses. Neither is gospel.

you mad bro?
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