http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...g/s_576315.html

Cause of malfunction found:

http://kdka.com/local/Kennywood.King.Kahuna.2.765544.html

Cause of malfunction found:

http://kdka.com/local/Kennywood.King.Kahuna.2.765544.html

Here Too

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Its hard to believe that one small piece of dirt could cause a big problem.At least they wernt stuck for hours!

Cause of malfunction found:

http://kdka.com/local/Kennywood.King.Kahuna.2.765544.html

Here Too

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Too good!

Its hard to believe that one small piece of dirt could cause a big problem.At least they wernt stuck for hours!

Remember what mom used to say about washing behind your ears?

And this was only a little piece of dirt.

Glad to see that it will be back in operation, but it's a little scary to know that all it takes is a spec of dirt to create such a mess. Now the rumors will fly. Did you hear that the ride stopped upside down because of a spec of dirt and someone fell out and got killed? How I love to hear ignorant people when they think they know what they are talking about and SO don't.

On July 5, 2008, Sonya Smith, 43, of Penn Hills rode the "King Kahuna" at the Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin, and later alleged that the ride caused spinal damage.

The ride, which has since been sold and is no longer at the park, features a bed of 40 seats suspended between two pendulum-like arms that rotate and lift the seating area up to a height of 40 feet, while the seats rotate as riders spin forward and backward. Riders are seated and held in place by over-the-shoulder harnesses.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/legal/jury-kennywood-injuries-not-caused-by-king-kahuna-ride-malfunction-680731/

Ah, those pre-existing conditions will get you every time! I think the Good Lord's Intelligent Design has built-in pre-existing conditions! (please don't tell Him I said that)

Although I'm not a doctor, I honestly don't see how being stuck upside down for 10-15 minutes, as painful and uncomfortable as that would be, could cause spinal cord injuries. It sounds like Kennywood did everything "right" in this situation - getting riders off as quickly as possible, having riders checked out by medical personnel and closing the ride until it was clear that the problem had been fixed.

This also brings up the question of whether the park is responsible if the injury is not reported prior to the individual leaving the park. I almost want to say they wouldn't be responsible after the person left, but, as in this case, some injuries may not be immediately noticeable.