Posted on 02/27/2006 9:20:58 AM PST by stainlessbanner
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A 13-year-old Orlando boy was hospitalized this weekend after falling from a roller coaster ride while acting on a dare from a friend, according to a statement from Cypress Gardens Sunday.
Martin Llamas remained in intensive care at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa, hospital officials said. He had been airlifted there Saturday after falling from the Triple Hurricane roller coaster at the Polk County theme park.
Hospital officials did not comment on his injuries.
According to a preliminary investigation, Llamas was facing the cars behind him as the ride approached a sharp right turn, said Carrie Rodgers, spokeswoman for the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Because the teen was turned around, "the lap bar was not secure across his legs," the sheriff's office said in a statement released Sunday evening. "During the turn, the force of the ride propelled him over the side and out of the car."
Llamas fell a distance of 10 to 12 feet onto grass, Rodgers said.
Park officials said they found Llamas' restraint still secured when the coaster stopped.
Cypress Gardens released a statement on Sunday saying that Llamas acted on a dare to maneuver out of his restraint, and stood up before falling as the ride ended. But Rodgers said the teen's family members say he was not standing.
Llamas's family could not be reached for comment. No telephone listing was found for the family.
State ride inspector Mark Gonzales, who inspected the roller coaster Sunday morning, reported that no deficiencies were found.
"No deficiencies means there's nothing wrong with the ride," said Liz Compton, spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture. The Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection checks the equipment after accidents, she said.
Cypress Gardens reopened the coaster Sunday morning after the state's inspection. The Triple Hurricane, a wooden roller coaster that features waves but no loops, has operated since December 2004.
"All rides at the park are thoroughly inspected and tested on a daily basis to ensure they are operating correctly, and we do everything possible to ensure that our guests comply with safety protocols. Our thoughts and prayers are with the young man and his family," park CEO Kent Buescher said in a statement.
Ed Proper Jr. of Scotia, N.Y., said he watched the roller coaster round a turn and saw Llamas fall to a grassy area beneath the ride.
"This kid just went right out and tumbled, it was like he was being twisted in mid-air," Proper said.
The boy's a moron I dare say.
Sometimes stupid can hurt
Of course, if it was a Double-Dog dare, I guess he hadda...
Stupid is as stupid does.
Man, thinking about some of the things myself and friends used to do like this on Thunder Road and Scooby Doo at Carowinds all I can say is there but for the grace of God. Prayer for this young man
Just skimming out the gene pool, I say.
"Hold muh lap bar and watch this."
The park should sue the kid's family for generating the bad publicity.
It's really tough being stupid...........
That too. I wonder when the kids folks will "lawyer up" seeking a settlement
Bump for later.
Prayers offered for the kid's recovery; hope the family has the decency not to take up court time trying to make a fortune off his stupidity.
Nah, had to be at least a triple-dog-dare.........
The parents had better be sure to sue the amusement park for not nailing the boy into his seat.
If this boy survives, I predict his last words will be, "Watch this, hold my beer.."
Makes me wonder what CBS reporters have to put up with in that case. [sarcasm off]
That's a breach of protocol.
< But Rodgers said the teen's family members say he was not standing. >
They're setting up for a lawsuit.
What does it matter that he wasn't standing anyway. He was backwards, probably on his knees. 'Nuff said
I hope the parents do not sue the park. The new owner just re-opened the park and he's trying to make a run of it. Cypress Gardens is a beautiful park - you might remember seeing their postcards from Florida with waterskiers lifted in the air.
Yeah, there were some crazy things we ride operators did back in the day. Gotta watch them test runs. Course back in my day they were old rickety wooden coasters.
We had a girl try a stunt during regular park hours, she found herself firmly planted on the ground with some broken bones and minor injuries. Later found it was some park exec's daughter. She got herself banned for life for her efforts.
You can't refuse a Double-Dog Black-Eyed Dare. If you do, you will immediately die. Standing up on a rollercoaster is actually safer than refusing a Double-Dog Black-Eyed Dare.
The kid's an idiot...but looking back at the crap I pulled at that age I sometimes think that it's a miracle I made it this far. I hope he's ok but I've got a feeling that's going to leave a mark.
Didn't even click that it was Cypress Gardens. I didn't know that they had reopened.
Having never been, I'll have to go check it out.
I guess he wins.
When I think of the stupid things I did when I was 11, 12, 13 years old, I should really pause to thank the good lord I'm still here.
I hate these hospital waiting rooms.
You'd think they'd pop a new magazine in here every once and a while...
< But Rodgers said the teen's family members say he was not standing. >
"They're setting up for a lawsuit."
EXACTLY what I was thinking.
A 13-year-old Orlando boy was hospitalized this weekend after falling from a roller coaster ride ... During the turn, the force of the ride propelled him over the side and out of the car.
Dam You Issac Newton!
If it wasn't for you and your stoo-pid Three Laws of Motion, Dilbert Dufus, oops .. Martin Llamas, would be okay.
Looks like the family is setting up a lawsuit, so they can collect $$$$.
The kid faced backwards to get out of the safety restraint.
At any rate, it's probably worth checking out for something a little different. Have fun!
Is there any other creature on earth as dumb and as daring as a 13-year-old boy?
I believe one can, technically, break a double-dog black-eyed dare IF ettiquette is breached and, say, a step is skipped. So, if one jumps from a double dare to a triple-dog, without observering the steps in between--immediate death can be thwarted.
And then we don't want to even discuss the triple dog fraidy baby dares, because, that's a whole 'nother can of worms entirely.
What ever happened to the freeper that use to ping with the 'hold my beer and watch this'?
Zeem Zeem Allabeem - The spirits are about to speak
How dare your tag line make fun of Questarianism?
You are banned from looking at images of Jade for life.
The darer is the one who will have this on his conscience for the rest of his life.
Terry McAuliffe and Howard Dean come to mind.
I suddenly feel compelled to go jump off the roof!
I heard it was the the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare.
Shed new light on the cartoon, I tell you.
Such is the power of the fraidy baby dare. Even the mere mention of it is powerful enough to lure a sensible man to do things he wouldn't normally do. ;-)
May you learn the lesson of Episode 13.
Life is short.
HAHAHAHAHA! Good one.
A 14-year-old boy when girls are watching?
"falling from a roller coaster ride while acting on a dare from a friend"
That's as much of the story as you need to see to be able to guess the gender of the person involved correctly.
Ah, yes, I remember those days of my boyhood. The prettier the girl, the greater the dare. And a slap in the face as a reward.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.