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[cowboy]

Did you all see where there was an accident at "The Branson Coaster" last weekend? What I read from Facebook posts they say the 12-year old boy became scared, stopped his car, then proceeded to exit but became trapped under the coaster? I haven't seen any official updates - so I'm hoping the child is recovering and they have fixed the issue on the ride. Is there any official word anywhere on what might have happened??

https://news.yahoo.com/boy-12-hospital-getting-trapped-200831832.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIJ7JalHAK4CiJUhOKq03C3bzvRyAFvmX042K_VGf4RawPPOXzNk2Sd7ZmPV7J4wbjRvCRm7O1WPYiy0g2J3nQgD1j2QXtz9rZt17zB3aXp80XvFQswrGqZ6hKIGsCAtJuq0chBxroNZlwnpvqbdNVTz6p8ikCKqWolR7KDmw9AJ

Jay

[shavethewhales]

It sounds horrible. It's hard to fathom what could have happened and I don't want to speculate too much, but typically you would expect something like this to happen when someone jumps out of the car. It's possible he thought he was supposed to get out at the base of the hill and got caught in the machinery.

[mg]

According to his grandmother, he is visually impaired (no sight in one eye and partial sight in the other). The thought that the ride was over, stood up and the ride started again causing him to fall on the tracks. It's a horrible accident.

https://www.ozarksfirst.com/top-stories/kolr10-exclusive-grandmother-speaks-on-the-condition-of-11-year-old-who-was-trapped-under-a-branson-roller-coaster/

[History Buff]

According to his grandmother, he is visually impaired (no sight in one eye and partial sight in the other). The thought that the ride was over, stood up and the ride started again causing him to fall on the tracks. It's a horrible accident.

https://www.ozarksfirst.com/top-stories/kolr10-exclusive-grandmother-speaks-on-the-condition-of-11-year-old-who-was-trapped-under-a-branson-roller-coaster/

Just to be clear, the report says these visual impairments are pre-existing.

[Swoosh]

It was definitely rider error.  Sad that he got hurt, but in no way souls the Sawmill be held liable

[chittlins]

It was definitely rider error.  Sad that he got hurt, but in no way souls the Sawmill be held liable

Will not stop a lawsuit though.

[pintrader]

It was definitely rider error.  Sad that he got hurt, but in no way souls the Sawmill be held liable

Will not stop a lawsuit though.

You guys have rode a lot more coasters and different ones than I ever will.  So my question is, is it normal for a person to be able to get out of their seat and get off a coaster that is still in progress?  I just figured most were designed to not be able to unlatch or unlock until the ride was over and done so by the ride operator.

[JustGoHogs]

I love coasters but I'm certainly not an expert.  That said, I expect it depends on the technology used.  For example, on a mountain or alpine coaster I would expect the technology to be less elaborate than that used at SDC. JMHO.

[shavethewhales]

These little mountain coasters just have seatbelts than can be undone at any time by the rider.

[pintrader]

Hmmm....sounds like they just need to put the latch out of the reach of the rider.  Kids nowadays would unlatch on a dare let alone an honest mistake like this one.

[Swoosh]

It was definitely rider error.  Sad that he got hurt, but in no way souls the Sawmill be held liable

Will not stop a lawsuit though.

You guys have rode a lot more coasters and different ones than I ever will.  So my question is, is it normal for a person to be able to get out of their seat and get off a coaster that is still in progress?  I just figured most were designed to not be able to unlatch or unlock until the ride was over and done so by the ride operator.

Yes. All mountain coasters have a normal seatbelt that can be released at any time. 

[chittlins]

It was definitely rider error.  Sad that he got hurt, but in no way souls the Sawmill be held liable

Will not stop a lawsuit though.

You guys have rode a lot more coasters and different ones than I ever will.  So my question is, is it normal for a person to be able to get out of their seat and get off a coaster that is still in progress?  I just figured most were designed to not be able to unlatch or unlock until the ride was over and done so by the ride operator.

I had to listen to someone talk about how they wouldn't ride Velociraptor on a recent trip because, "it went upside down and it only had lap bars and I didn't want to fall out." 

But...rode Hulk

[biscuitcreek]

The state inspected the ride on the 9th and approved its reopening according to KY3.