Incidents at Cedar Fair parks
Encyclopedia
This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at amusement parks, water parks, or theme parks that are currently owned or operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant impact on the parks or park operations, or are otherwise significantly newsworthy. In some cases, incidents occurred while the park was under different management or owners.
The term incidents refers to major accidents, injuries, or deaths that occur at a park. While these incidents were required to be reported to regulatory authorities due to where they occurred, they usually fall into one of the following categories:
Please see the references for each listed item for specific details.
The term incidents refers to major accidents, injuries, or deaths that occur at a park. While these incidents were required to be reported to regulatory authorities due to where they occurred, they usually fall into one of the following categories:
- Caused by negligence on the part of the guest. This can be refusal to follow specific ride safety instructions, or deliberate intent to break park rules.
- The result of a guest's known or unknown health issues.
- Negligence on the part of the park, either by ride operator or maintenance.
- Act of GodAct of GodAct of God is a legal term for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters, for which no one can be held responsible.- Contract law :...
or a generic accident (e.g., slipping and falling) that is not a direct result of an action on anybody's part.
Please see the references for each listed item for specific details.
Jimmy Neutron's Brainwasher
The first ride accident in the park's history was August 23, 2003, when the Jimmy Neutron's Brainwasher fell apart. Three children were sent to hospital as a precautionary measure, one of whom had to be airlifted.Nighthawk
- On March 17, 2007, seven employees received minor injuries during a pre-season test run of the roller coaster now called Nighthawk (but at the time called BORG Assimilator). The roller coaster train, containing 16 Carowinds employees at the time, stopped at the base of the vertical loop after the ride's emergency brakes engaged (approximately eight feet above the ground). An inspection discovered that the ride malfunctioned when a ride operator accidentally pushed the button controlling the seat positions while the ride was in motion. That button has been fixed to operate only while the ride is stopped.
Thunder Road
- On April 5, 1999, a train collided with another, leaving seven people injured. Sensors on the ride were then replaced, opening the ride again.
Wildcat
- On May 16, 2008, one of the cars on Wildcat, a roller coaster that runs single cars, rolled backward down a hill, hitting another car. Ten people suffered minor injuries. Initial inspections revealed a suspected fault in the ride’s anti-rollback system.
- On June 5, 2011, a moving car collided with a stationary car in the ride's station. Seven people suffered bumps and bruises, with four of these treated at the on-site first aid station, and three others taken to Firelands Regional Medical Center as a precautionary action.
Magnum XL-200
- On May 26, 2007, one roller coaster train collided with another at about 10 mi/h, causing minor damage to both trains and minor injuries to at least three passengers. Two people were treated at the scene, while a third person had an asthma attack and was taken to a local hospital. No serious injuries were reported, and the ride returned to service in single-train operation the next day. The park said that the accident was due to early morning rain storms leaving excessive moisture on the track.
Top Thrill Dragster
- On July 13, 2004, four people were injured after they were struck from pieces of metal and debris that sheared off the roller coaster's launch cable during the ride's launch sequence. The four guests were treated at the park's first aid station; two of those guests had further treatments addressed at Firelands Regional Medical Center.
Drop Tower: Scream Zone
- In August 1999, a 12-year-old boy who was mentally disabled fell from the tower and died. The victim's family claimed the harness was not locked properly. An investigation was inconclusive and no charges were filed.
Flight Deck
- On September 7, 1998, a man was killed by the dangling leg of a woman speeding by on Top Gun (now called Flight Deck) an inverted roller coaster whose riders sit below the track with their legs hanging down. The man reportedly only knew Spanish, therefore he could not read the park's warning signs (They were in English) and entered a fenced-off area under the ride to retrieve his hat. The passenger suffered a broken leg.
Great Barrier Reef
- On July 12, 2007, a four-year-old boy drowned in a two-foot-deep area of the wave pool. Lifeguards retrieved him, and they and EMTs attempted to resuscitate him. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Logger's Run
- In 1989, two boys intentionally jumped out of the Loggers' Run log flume ride. One was killed and the other fell safely onto an emergency platform.
Willard's Whizzer
- On March 29, 1980, an unidentified 14-year-old boy was killed and eight others injured when two roller coaster trains collided. The park's owners were charged with not reporting a possible defect in the ride's braking system. Marriott Corporation settled the civil penalty action brought by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission with a US$70,000 payment. The Commission also found that the ride had at least 11 other incidents between 1976 and 1979, resulting in an unreported and unknown number of injuries.
Volcano: The Blast Coaster
- On June 23, 2006, an unidentified man suffered a cut leg from flying debris during this roller coaster's launch. An investigation showed that a loose bolt became lodged in the LIM magnets used to launch the train.
Shockwave
- On August 23, 1999, a 20-year-old man from Long Island, NYLong IslandLong Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
became free of his restraints while on this roller coaster and fell to his death. An investigation showed that the ride restraints were working properly and were still secured when the train returned to the station. Less than one year later, a 13-year-old boy, concerned that he was not properly fastened into his restraints, intentionally slipped out of them as the train was ascending the lift hill. He jumped onto the adjacent maintenance catwalk and escaped serious injury.
Flight Commander
- On June 9, 1991, a 32-year-old woman from Toledo, OhioToledo, OhioToledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, died when she fell out of the ride. An investigation revealed that the woman had been severely intoxicated (with a blood-alcohol level of 0.30%) and had failed to follow proper safety procedures prior to launch.
Oktoberfest area
- On June 9, 1991, a park employee and a guest were killed when they were electrocuted while trying to help a third man who had fallen into a pond. Initially, the cause for electrocution was a mystery, but was later discovered to have been caused by an underwater circulation pump.
Son of Beast
- On July 9, 2006, a support timber on the wooden Son of Beast roller coaster cracked, resulting in the coaster's track dropping several feet. 27 riders were injured. Most of the injuries were of the chest or neck. Of those injured, 25 people were released from hospitals within five hours of the accident and two were admitted. None of the injuries were life-threatening. The ride reopened on July 4, 2007, nearly a year after the accident, without its trademark loop.
- On June 16, 2009, a 40+year-old woman reported suffering a head injury from riding Son of Beast on May 31, 2009. The woman who was injured had previous medical conditions such as brain aneurysms. The park shut down the attraction to conduct an investigation; the ride had no irregularities.
Firehawk
- On August 7, 2009, a man from Toledo, OhioToledo, OhioToledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
appeared to be having breathing trouble after the train came back into the station. The man had a pre-existing heart condition and was still recovering from a severe bout with the flu and a respiratory infection. Park medics were called, and the man was taken to Bethesda North Hospital. Kings Island was informed the following evening that the man had died.
Perilous Plunge
- In September 2001, a 40-year-old woman fell out of the attraction, into the water, was hit by the boat, and died. An investigation showed that the 300 lb (136.1 kg) woman had loosened the safety restraints, so that she could fit more comfortably inside the ride.
Montezooma's Revenge
- Justine Dedele Bolia, a 20-year-old woman, died on September 1, 2001, one day after riding Montezooma's Revenge. Bolia suffered a ruptured middle cerebral artery, and an autopsy revealed a pre-existing condition. The ride was closed for several days while an investigation was conducted. Though state investigators concluded that the ride did not contribute to her death, a wrongful death lawsuit was later filed by her family in 2002. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2006.
Xcelerator
- On September 16, 2009, two guests were injured when a cable on this roller coaster snapped. The 12-year-old victim had lacerationWoundA wound is a type of injury in which skin is torn, cut or punctured , or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion . In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin.-Open:...
s on his leg, while the adult victim complained of back injuries.
Pony Express
- On October 7, 2010, ten people received minor injuries when the two Pony Express trains collided in the station of the ride. The launch system failed to power the first train over the first hill causing it to roll back into the station and collide with the second train. Investigations following the accident showed that paint had gone into the brakes, which made them function improperly.
Chaos
- On July 30, 2001, the upper rotating portion of the Chaos ride separated from the stationary portion. This led to a sudden collapse of the passenger ride wheel. The rotation was immediately halted, and several of the passenger cars suffered severe damage. Of the thirty-three people on the ride, thirty-one were taken to area hospitals, most with minor injuries. The last two passengers were removed from their vehicle nine hours after the incident. An investigation put the blame on both poor maintenance which allowed bolts to loosen, twist, and break, and on structural fatigue fractures that were discovered afterward.
SeaWorld Ohio
- On August 17, 1996, 22 people were injured during a BaywatchBaywatchBaywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production...
-themed water ski stunt show at SeaWorld of Ohio. The boat driver lost control after the boat allegedly experienced mechanical failure. The boat crashed five rows deep into the show's stadium resulting in 17 people being taken to area hospitals and five more treated on the scene. During the accident investigation, the owner of the boat, World Entertainment Services, Inc., of Winter Park, FloridaWinter Park, FloridaWinter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, was charged with three marine regulation violations unrelated to the accident.
Wild Thing
- On May 21, 2006, the back car of one of the trains of the roller coaster Wild Thing became disconnected from the rest of the train as it was nearing the station and beginning to brake at the end of the ride. A mounting bracket supporting brakes on the track had malfunctioned, damaging the rear axle of the 5th car (of 6 total). This caused the 6th car to break free from the train, and tip over into a fence adjacent to the roller coaster, injuring 18 people. Fourteen of these were taken to nearby St. Francis Medical Center, but all injuries were minor and all were treated and released. The Wild Thing reopened on June 1 after a number of inspections and tests cleared it as safe to ride again.
Orient Express
- On July 17, 1999, two cars of a seven-car train on this roller coaster derailed, stranding 18 people. Two people were immediately taken to the hospital, with six others being sent to the hospital later. None of the injuries were life-threatening. During a subsequent investigation, it was determined that the cars derailed due to severe internal metal fatigue in a metal support post.
Timber Wolf
- On March 31, 1990, 35 people were injured when two roller coaster trains collided just short of the loading platform. The control system malfunctioned, causing the system to be unable to control two trains at once. The ride reopened running a single train until the control system was fixed to handle two trains.
- On June 30, 1995, a 14-year-old girl was killed when she fell about 25 feet (7.6 m) from the coaster. The park owner and ride manufacturer claimed she was switching seats when the accident occurred, though this was disputed by her family. The ride was temporarily shut down pending the results of an investigation of its safety features, which resulted in new lapbars being installed. The park's owners at the time, Hunt-Midwest, and the ride's builder, Dinn Corporation, settled with the victim's family in the amount of $200,000.