CoasterFreak273 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Hello all! I just wanted to share with you an aritcle that I wrote for my school's newspaper. All of the information should be properly quoted and accurate but if there are any mistakes, do not feel shy to make me aware of them. I am really excited about it and I just would like to know your comments! Thanks!!! Published in The Striking Times, Villa Madonna Academy High School's Student Newspaper for the September Issue: *START* Son of Beast Takes the Plunge By: Mark Bailey “In some ways, this whole year has been a roller coaster ride for Kings Island,†writes Jessica Brown, Enquirer Staff Writer. On July 9th, 27 riders were injured and sent to the hospital when Son of Beast, a roller coaster at Paramount’s Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, malfunctioned during a run. Park officials released that on the day before the accident, Son of Beast was shut down because riders complained of “a bumpy ride.†Operators opened up the ride 10 minutes later after inspectors tested and cleared the ride. Inspectors discovered a cracked vertical timber that may have caused the sudden jolt during the ride. The problem has been narrowed down to three possible structural issues: wood strength, maintenance, or design. Out of the 27 riders, two law suits have been filed. Crissie Lorick, 29, suffered a fractured sternum, several fractured ribs, bruises, and sprains. Lorick’s daughter, Natasha Burris, 13, and a friend, Weldon Shaffer III, 34, were also injured during the ride. They were given a total of $22,900 for medical bills and suit claims. Melissa Eberle, in her 20’s, another passenger on the rough run, also suffered a fractured sternum. She remained in Bethesda North Hospital for four days after the accident receiving pain medication. "She's got an extremely painful and debilitating injury," Eberle’s attorney stated. "I don't anticipate it being operational before they close for the season," said LeeAnne Mizer, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Agriculture. "These investigations take weeks and months. We are by no means done.†The $20 million dollar offspring of the record breaking Beast was repaired last week and park and state officials are pleased with the progress of the repairs. They are now testing the ride using “water dummies,†rider-shaped, water-filled, testing devices to simulate the weight of riders. Trains are also said to be equipped with sensors that detect G-forces and overall roughness of the ride to ensure the safety of thrill-seeking guests. *END* Sooooo... whadda ya think!?!? CoasterFreak273 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hauntguy Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Tear it down... build a better, bigger ride! -Hauntguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastfan11 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Ha ^ you go to villa i live like 5 min. walking distance from there.. do you happen to no a gavin wickman? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrwomann Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Save the Son of Beast. It's the best ride at PKI. The park isn't the same without it. It placed in the Top 50 wooden coaster Golden Ticket Awards this year. This isn't where I would have ranked it if I had a chance to vote. My vote would have been in the Top 10 coasters in the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZosoBeast Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 I think he was talking about his article, not the actual fate of the coaster. "Park officials released that on the day before the accident, Son of Beast was shut down because riders complained of “a bumpy ride.†Operators opened up the ride 10 minutes later after inspectors tested and cleared the ride." This is the first I have heard of this news. Anybody else? Or have I just been living under a rock the past 4 months... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 I think he was talking about his article, not the actual fate of the coaster. "Park officials released that on the day before the accident, Son of Beast was shut down because riders complained of “a bumpy ride.†Operators opened up the ride 10 minutes later after inspectors tested and cleared the ride." This is the first I have heard of this news. Anybody else? Or have I just been living under a rock the past 4 months... To the best of my knowledge it was NOT accurate. If you remember the Q&A we had with Maureen on the site, she said that the ride ops did the proper procedure and the ride was shut down immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 The $20 million dollar offspring of the record breaking Beast was repaired last week and park and state officials are pleased with the progress of the repairs. Really? Source? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Bowser Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I found so many mistakes in that news letter...you did do a great job. I still think SoB will reopen in Spring/Summer 2007 unlike what the SoB haters think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 ^Besides the mistake Bill pointed out, everything else coincided with what Maureen said in the Q&A, good article coasterfreak, although its news a PKI fan doesnt want to hear, its accurate and truthful. You only had one wrong piece of information but thats about it. Good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Really? http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=5316486&nav=0zHF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIBeast Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 ^So, what is the difference you are trying to point out? I agree, Bowser. I want Son of Beast to re-open, much to the chagrin of the haters. I didn't get the chance to ride it this season and my trip just didn't seem the same. Coasterfreak, nice article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Bring the Pain... I love Sonny A rough ride on Sonny is better than a smooth ride on Vortex any day. ^ ^ ^ Thats going to make some folks flame. Hit me with it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Tear it down... build a better, bigger ride! -Hauntguy You got it HauntGuy. That is the biggest waste of money i have ever seen. I mean it is an ok ride and it does bring in the people but it is by far one of my most hated coasters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Tear it down... build a better, bigger ride! -Hauntguy You got it HauntGuy. That is the biggest waste of money i have ever seen. I mean it is an ok ride and it does bring in the people but it is by far one of my most hated coasters. I just want to know what the difference is between SOB and digging a giant hole and just shoveling money into it. Between the cost or repairs, upkeep and legal expenses - can you imagine what kind of attraction they could add if SOB were removed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrwomann Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Maureen Kaiser e-mailed me and told me that PKI is committed to making sure the Son of Beast does reopen. They are currently running tests on the ride to see what caused accident. I hope that it opens next Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIBeast Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 ^Yes! That's what I wanted to hear. Why wouldn't Cedar Fair want the tallest, fastest, and only looping wood coaster in the world operating. I mean, they love breaking records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 ^ ^ ^ And its a d@mn good ride. Anyways KI has gotten a good sum of money from their lawsuit against the builder so things aren't as bad as people make them out to be. All the hatters out there just need to deal with this SOB and besides the fact it fractured some sternums its not that rough when it isn't broken. Like I always say go ride Texas Giant, Villian, Ragging Wolf Bobs, Mean Streak, Drachen Fire(not possible) and then we will talk about something rough. Sonny is pretty smooth for being as tall and fast as it is. Oh yeah its wood too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausty1983 Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I have no idea how those coasters are compared to SOB but a lot of my friends never have complained about SOB. I know I don't think its bad at all also too but they could atleast figure by testing what can be done to make it safe for everyone. The number one thing first should be safety on all rides in a park. I love to ride wooden roller coasters and would like to see this open agian. The park does hurt a lot without it being opened. I know a lot of us have said this before but I myself am used to them rough and not expecting them to be smooth like steel coasters are. I'm sure there is a lot of people being dramatic about this ride its very obvious and don't like wooden roller coasters at all or hardly ride roller coasters much at all in their lives. I still don't understand what happened to the money they still are supposed to be payed for in the lawsuit over the structure of the ride we could use that money right now in putting better,safer structure for the ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Maureen Kaiser e-mailed me and told me that PKI is committed to making sure the Son of Beast does reopen. They are currently running tests on the ride to see what caused accident. I hope that it opens next Spring. You know what they say....... 1) The Check is the mail. 2) I'll Respect You In The Morning. 3) I won't ..... <G> So I'd take "PKI is committed to making sure the Son of Beast does reopen" for what it's worth. <G> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 ^ ^ And its a d@mn good ride. Anyways KI has gotten a good sum of money from their lawsuit against the builder...../color] KI may have gotten a judgment for a good sum of money, but as the park has pointed out numerous times, it has not collected the first dime. RCCA is defunct, as are its subsidiaries in America. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFreak273 Posted September 9, 2006 Author Share Posted September 9, 2006 Hey guys. Thanks for all the replies, comments, etc. I did find all of my information accurate and true at www.enquirer.com including the bit about the accident the day before. I quote below: "All roller coasters at the park are inspected daily. The Son of Beast was shut down for 10 minutes the day before the accident because riders complained of a bumpy ride, park officials said. No problems were found that day. But the next day - the day of the accident - the ride remained closed for the first three hours of business as technicians worked on the part of the ride that riders said was bumpy and did a second inspection. That spot was not in the same area as the cracked timber." http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...7250342/0/CINCI I had never heard of the "day before accident" until I read this article. Apparently it is the only story to include the "day before accident." I really appreciate all of your comments! You guys are great! CoasterFreak273 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFreak273 Posted September 9, 2006 Author Share Posted September 9, 2006 I found so many mistakes in that news letter...you did do a great job. I still think SoB will reopen in Spring/Summer 2007 unlike what the SoB haters think. Just for some help, King Bowser, what errors did you find in my article? I just want to make sure that all of my info is accurate before we print. Thanks! CoasterFreak273 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 It placed in the Top 50 wooden coaster Golden Ticket Awards this year. This isn't where I would have ranked it if I had a chance to vote. My vote would have been in the Top 10 coasters in the USA. Considering that The Beast gained 431 pts. vs. the 36 pts. (however they came to these "points", I have no idea) that SoB garnered, being in the top 50 is not as glamorus as you have made it seem. If you add everything up: the initial cost of the ride, the costs of the numerous repairs/ modifications to the ride, the downtime, the injuries that the ride has caused, and the black mark that it has put on KI because of both the injuries & downtime. It is just not worth it anymore. All the money spent trying to improve SoB could have been spent in other areas of the park; i.e. all the themeing that has not been maintained throughout the park & on other rides. It would be nice to see the ride operate again, but over the past six years, it has become the money pit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollerzach Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 So what are they doing to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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