12 Of The World’s Worst Roller Coaster Crashes
Roller-coasters are one of the scariest rides man has ever created. What crazier is that you VOLUNTARILY get on a ride that initially goes at snail’s pace (and you know it) and suddenly attains breakneck speed (and you know it), in a round of endless loops might I add (and you know it!). What seems like hours actually ends in minutes. Though these rides are safe and have been tested for safety, there have been instances where accidents have taken place.
Below are some of the worst roller-coaster crashes in history.
12. Darien Lake Theme Park, Syracuse, New York
In July 2011 US Army Sergeant James Hackemer was thrown from the Superman roller coaster and fell to his death. He was an Iraq veteran who had lost both his legs and should not have been allowed on the ride.
11. Oakwood Theme Park Pembrokeshire, Wales
In April 2004, a 16-year-old girl named Hayley Williams was riding Hydro, a water roller-coaster when she suddenly flew out of the car and fell 30 meters. She died from internal injuries.
10. Fujin Raijin II Roller Coaster at Expoland – Osaka, Japan
On May 5th 2007, a Fujin Raijin II was derailed and cars went off the tracks. A 19-year-old university student was killed and 19 others injured. A broken axel caused the derailment and it was later learnt that none of the ride axels had been replaced for 15 years!
9. Action Park Vernon, New Jersey
Action Park was known to have unsafe rides with a history of six people dying at the park. Three drowning’s, an electrocution and a heart attack. On July 1980 one man, however, died on an Alpine slide car where the car he was riding leapt off and caused him to smash his head on a rock killing him instantly.
8. Derby Racer Roller Coaster – Revere, Massachusetts, USA
One of the first wooden roller-coasters built in 1911, you can imagine the safety precautions used. A young man was catapulted from the roller coaster and killed on impact on the day of the roller-coaster opening. Six years later another man was killed when he fell in front of the roller coaster.
7. The Cyclone Coney Island, New York
The Cyclone was another wooden roller coaster and was known to be dangerous. The Cyclone had injured many people and killed three in 1985 and 1989, the last one being a man who’s neck was broken by the force of The Cyclones first drop on July 2007.
6. King’s Island – Mason, Ohio, USA
This was a horrifying day. On June 9, 1991, death was all around this amusement park. A man fell into the pond and when two men went to rescue him they were electrocuted and died, the only survivor was the man they were trying to save. Nearly an hour later 32-year-old Candy Taylor fell from a ride called flight commander and died on impact.
5. The Smiler, Alton towers United Kingdom
On 4th June 2015 a carriage on the roller coaster ride called ‘The Smiler’ stopped mid way and another carriage crashed right into it at 50mph. A total of 16 people were injured and one girl had to have her leg amputated.
4. Mindbender at Galaxyland Amusement Park – Alberta, Canada
The world’s largest indoor triple loop roller-coaster also had one of the worst accidents of all time! On June 1986 missing bolts on the cars wheel caused a four car train to disengage. The final car fishtailed wildly, throwing off passengers and crashing into support structures. Three of the people on the track were killed by either falling, or hanging on the track. The fourth man sustained serious injuries to his neck and chest.
3. Six Flags Over GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Batman: The ride is a roller-coaster that takes people through Gotham City. June 2008, a 17-year-old boy named Asia Leeshawn Ferguson lost his hat on the ride and was determined to get it back. He jumped two fences to get it, all the while ignoring the warning signs. Unfortunately, he came in front of the ride and was decapitated.
2. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Louisville, Kentucky
Another superhero ride known as The Superman Tower of Power had its own horrifying incident. The ride lifts its passengers up to dizzying heights and then has a free fall. On June 21, 2007, 13-year-old Kaitlyn Lasitters’ neck and legs were wrapped in a broken cable of the ride. While she was able to free her neck but, the cable was wrapped tightly around her legs. As the ride descended, the cables severed her feet. Surgeons were only able to reattach the girls right foot.
1. The Big Dipper at Battersea Fun Fair – London, England, United Kingdom
In England in 1972, at London’s Battersea Park Fun Fair, a tragedy took place. In those days, wooden roller-coasters had a rope that was used as a break to stop the roller-coaster. In May of 1972, however, the rope broke and the roller coaster smashed into a wall killing five children and injuring 13 others.
Hope you aren’t reading this before going to an amusement park…
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