Rides shut after gruesome Ky. Six Flags accident

[Guest]

Rides shut after Ky. Six Flags accident

By BRETT BARROUQUERE, Associated Press Writer

6-22-07

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Six Flags and another company shut down eight more thrill rides Friday around the country after a teenage girl had her feet chopped off at the ankle on a Superman Tower of Power.

State inspectors, meanwhile, returned to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom where the accident happened to examine the ride, which lifts passengers 177 feet straight up, then drops them nearly the same distance at speeds reaching 54 mph.

It was unclear at what point during the ride the 13-year-old was injured Thursday, said Wendy Goldberg, a Six Flags spokeswoman. The girl was taken to a hospital. She was not identified and details of her condition were not immediately available Friday.

Six Flags has shut down similar rides at parks in St. Louis, Gurnee, Ill., and near Washington as a safety precaution, Goldberg said. Six Flags Over Texas, near Dallas, also has a Superman Tower of Power, but it is not the same ride, Goldberg said.

There were no reports of injuries on the ride before Thursday, she said.

"Millions of people have safely ridden this ride in our parks," Goldberg said.

The accident led Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. to shut down and inspect drop tower rides at five of its amusement parks as a precaution, company spokeswoman Stacy Frole said.

Intamin, a Swiss company, made all the rides that were closed by both companies, said Craig Ross, a spokesman for Cedar Fair.

"We're going to keep these things down until we're certain it's safe," Ross said. "We'll wait and see."

An e-mail message sent to Intamin was not immediately returned Friday.

The five Cedar Fair rides that will be shut down are at Kings Island near Cincinnati; Canada's Wonderland, in Toronto; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va.; Carowinds, in Charlotte, N.C.; and Great America in Santa Clara, Calif.[/quote

Edited June 22, 2007 by EM2FD

[ailc307 1]

This amusment park is just up the street from Jewish Hospital Hand Center. They also deal with other types of amputations. They are supposed to be the one of the best. I have flew a lot of amputations there. The media is reporting they took her to University Hospital. I cant believe they didnt take her straight to Jewish Hospital. I guess they considered it a Trauma, and took her straight to the trauma center.

My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family!

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Very sad to hear and think of as a parent. I hope that she will not suffer any further complications due to the injury and will be able to adapt with the aid of prosthetics.

[Guest paramedico987]

Anbody know any more about this? i.e. what caused such an injury.

based on the description of her feet being "chopped off" it sounds like a replant could have been possible... evidenly not, according to what I've been able to hear on the news.

Gosh I hate the media... it's like teasing a little kid with a lollipop that you have no intention of giving them!

[helicopper 1,050]

Anbody know any more about this?  i.e. what caused such an injury.

based on the description of  her feet being "chopped off" it sounds like a replant could have been possible... evidenly not, according to what I've been able to hear on the news.

Gosh I hate the media... it's like teasing a little kid with a lollipop that you have no intention of giving them!

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One media snapshot said something about a cable snapping and swinging around injuring several riders and amputating the feet of this girl.

Horrible accident!