Shoot The Rapids boat flips over with riders

[Maverick00]

There was an allegation posted saying a Millennium Force maintenance worker fell to his death earlier this month.

I think if I were you and I heard that, I'd do a little research to see if it did happen. I wouldn't go around saying a maintenance worker fell to his death unless I know it did happen.

[Ride On_17]

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved with this accident along with the one on New Texas Giant.

Things like this are so sad to hear about, especially when they occur almost at the same time.

[TTD-120-420]

There was an allegation posted saying a Millennium Force maintenance worker fell to his death earlier this month.

"Park spokesman Bryan Edwards confirmed that a park maintenance employee was injured at about 3 a.m. Saturday while working on Millennium Force. "

"He did not know the nature of the maintenance employee’s injuries, but they were not life threatening. Edwards was unsure of how far the employee fell, but the man may have been working near the coaster’s station."

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/article/cedar-point/4292906

[Sonofbeast2.0]

I hope the best for the people hurt!

I thought this would be the "best" thread to ask this question, but what about rides that are launched up hills (Hulk, Revenge of the Mummy that's all I can think of) , Do those have rollback things? Or do they use a completely different method?

The reason I ask if they have rollback catchers is because you never hear them.

[TheCrypt]

And what about cable lift hills? What's stopping a train from rolling back should a power outage occur?

[YoungStud]

And what about cable lift hills? What's stopping a train from rolling back should a power outage occur?

Cable lift hills has anti rollbacks. Do you remember when the cable snapped not long after mf was open with employees on it during morning testing?

[The Interpreter]

Flight of Fear also launches up a hill. It does not have anti-rollbacks. Same thing for Backlot. On both, a new train does not move into place in the station until the previous train begins to descend the first drop.

[TTD-120-420]

Continuing with what Terp said, launch coasters need to be able to roll back into position. If it stopped on the hill because of anti-rollbacks, there would be no method of getting the train over the hill (except for manually winching it).

Maverick example:

[Browntggrr]

Thank God for those double lanyard safety harnesses, Having worn them I just would imagine a coaster maintenance worker would have one on for sure.

Probably should have, but the probable: "I've done this a thousand times- safely" was said.

Safety is never quick.

[The Interpreter]

Last paragraph here:

http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2570527

[TheCrypt]

Edit: oops slipped up again :/

[Captain Picard]

This could have been any of us. Today is a sad day for the industry. I feel for all those involved. I only wish I was there to get the boat turned over faster.

Seat belts on water rides have always been somewhat controversial....

This is why seat belts should not be on water rides, because anything can happen like this.

Seat belts can be released by the rider, over the shoulder restraints cannot.

Have you ever been on the Woodstock Gliders at Carowinds?

[Diamondbacker27]

What would happen to the riders IF TTDs Launch Cable did snap?

[YoungStud]

It has, a couple passengers had some minor cuts. They inspect the cable now more thoroughly. It snapped with passengers I believe in 04??

[The Interpreter]

Kingda Ka's also snapped. Shards of metal flew everywhere. No one was aboard, and the park was not yet open. The State of New Jersey now requires twice daily inspections of the ride, including the cable.

[Diamondbacker27]

I knew it had happened. I was just wondering. Seems like they should have a safer way to launch it.

[thedevariouseffect]

It is a safe launch, just you have to think. Its accelerating a train that weighs 20 tons without passengers, using 20k horsepower combined accumulators, and spinning a cable around a drum as fast as it can until it reaches the 120mph threshold, that's a lot of stress

[The Interpreter]

Or 128 MPH in New Jersey...

[Hank]

Until the exact story of what happened is told - that is, if it is ever told (Cedar Fair and Intamin may not want to reveal things) - everything is just a big question mark. We hear rollbacks, overturns, etc - one thing that is true is that 7 people were treated for injuries in some way, shape, or form. Thank God no one was killed.

[The Interpreter]

There likely will be a state investigation. That will be subject to Ohio's open records laws.

[KI FANATIC 37]

My guess is that STR will be severely modified to prevent, not just this, but many other accidents from happening.

[YoungStud]

Seatbelts and foot/ankle restraints more than likely.

[YoungStud]

The ride at sdc may get otsr's since it has inversions. That would suck.

[The Interpreter]

Seatbelts and foot/ankle restraints more than likely.

For Shoot the Rapids? What if that would have delayed or made impossible escaping an overturned boat?

[YoungStud]

sorry, texas giant. The threads are running together.

[The Interpreter]

Which brings up this in the wrong thread, too. Those who heard about the Cedar Point accident but live elsewhere are unlikely to think it happened at their local Cedar Fair Park. I bet many in Chicago, Georgia, Jersey, California, etc., who half heard about the Six Flags coaster death are fully convinced it happened at their local Six Flags.

[Browntggrr]

Kingda Ka's also snapped. Shards of metal flew everywhere. No one was aboard, and the park was not yet open. The State of New Jersey now requires twice daily inspections of the ride, including the cable.

The cables are also now coated with a wax-like substance to help eliminate the flying shards.

[The Interpreter]

I should add one of the two required Ka inspections each day is at mid-day. Guests often leave the line, thinking the ride has broken down when it has not.

[The Interpreter]

Update: http://www.freep.com/article/20130720/FEATURES07/307200052/Cedar-Point-ride-rolls-backward-down-hill-7-hurt

[emileeee]

I was on STR two days before this happened. Crazy. Though the article stated that there were ten people in the boat. When I rode it, they had passengers in every row but the middle row. A little strange, could mean nothing.