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[sanddunerider]

http://news.yahoo.com/army-amputee-thrown-ny-roller-coaster-dies-044044948.html

[okiebluegrass]

He was an Army vet who had lost both his legs to a roadside bomb.  Godspeed, soldier!.

[Ozark Outlaw]

Such a tragic incident, for everyone involved, and especially the family of the soldier.

Unfortunately in life, one plus one always equals two, and that was the case here. It is too early to point fingers, or place blame. However, surely someone would have thought that having him ride this rollercoaster was not the best of ideas.

[shavethewhales]

Hindsight 20/20

Not knowing of this incident, would you turn a physically-fit-looking man down from riding a roller coaster? I mean, looking at the photo of him, I do have to wonder what was going through their minds when they put the restraints down, but maybe it looked like it fit ok, or maybe he insisted. Who knows what was really going on. The ride operators are probably all minor kids anyway...

[Polley]

Hindsight 20/20

The ride operators are probably all minor kids anyway...

What is that supposed to mean?  Are you implying that if the operators had been older then the death would be more acceptable? I do not know if you are aware of this or not but, one can be incompetent at any age. Incompetency does not discriminate. 

Regardless of the age or circumstance, our thoughts go out to all those affected by this tragedy especially to the family and friends who lost a loved one. 

[shavethewhales]

^Yeah, but there's only so much trust you can put into a minor in these kinds of situations. I've always felt concern whenever I'm at a park and 16 year-olds are running all the rides. At that age and working part-time for minimum wage, I think it would be hard for me to remember all the safety regulations that don't come up often, such as the amputee issue, and it would be especially hard for me to kick someone able-looking off the ride for something that's probably only mentioned briefly in training, if at all.

Who knows who the operators were though. Incompetency definitely does run through the ages. Sounds like this was a training issue regardless, which definitely will make Herschend look bad.

[Swoosh]

Again???  Sheesh.  (Superman) Ride of Steel claims another life.

[cocodane3]

This isn't the first time that someone has died on this coaster?

[tomncyndi]

back in 1999 right after the ride opened a man fell and injured himself .

[Polley]

back in 1999 right after the ride opened a man fell and injured himself .

It will be interesting to see what ultimately caused this recent death? Negligence or a design flaw?  My bet would be a little of both. 

[Swoosh]

The restraints did not work properly since he did not have two legs is the theme of most reports.

Yes sorry, in 1999 a guy was thrown from the coaster but ultimately survived.  MB

[betamike]

Working with safety in my line of business for theme parks, the Manufacturer's Requirments dictate that that at least one full limb must extend or be visible on the other side of any restraint (that's a standard).    I will also decline to place blame in this situation and focus only on the tragedy and sense of loss here.

I will say that I have witnessed MANY (many many many many many) Guests get upset, foam at the mouth and practically spit at you when you try to enforce these policies.  Children under the height restriction?  "You ruined our vacation...I'll sue!" etc, etc....   Not to say this is what happened at Darien Lake, but that is why a Tier 4 investigation is standard after an incident like this.   Could be a restraint malfunction, could be operator error...or could be a poor decision on the Guest (enforced by a poor decision by the Operator to "let" them ride).

Only hope that good will come with awareness to attraction safety.

[KBCraig]

I don't have any experience in the industry, but I think betamike has it exactly right.

In this case, the deceased had no stump at all on his left side (amputated all the way to the pelvis), and just a 4-6" stump on his right side.

There's no possible way a lap bar restraint, by itself, could restrain him in any negative-G situation, or in a side-to-side G force situation. I don't know which was at play here, but unless he had over-the-shoulder restraints, he wasn't safe for anything other than positive G force moves (those that shoved him into the seat).

[Junior]

Sad story, all the way around. I'm watching and listening for additional reports as to the findings in the investigation. Thanks all for keeping us posted here. Must say in the old days when I worked in attractions there really was never any problems at SDC with stuff of this nature. I remember at the float trip and flooded mine help load handicapped people into boats, and we had an occasional wheelchair aboard the diving bell. We never had to turn anyone away from the attractions I worked at . However, there always was somebody once in a while who got hacked off because we had to ask them to follow rules. Can't please everyone.

[sanddunerider]

this just posted:

http://godarienlake.com/ride-of-steel-update/