Man Killed When Hair Is Caught In Fairgrounds Ride

AP via The Sun ^ | August 17,2003 | Associated Press

[John W]

LANGLEY -- A man was killed Saturday when his long hair got caught in the amusement park ride he owned, pulling him up as high as 40 feet before he fell, back-first, onto a fence. Doug McKay, 40, was the co-owner of Paradise Amusements, based in Post Falls, Idaho. He was spraying lubricant on the tracks of the Super Loop 2, a roller coaster-type ride at the Island County Fair on Whidbey Island.

The ride was in progress at the time, and McKay's hair got caught on a car full of fairgoers, said sheriff's spokeswoman Jan Smith. He was pulled between 25 and 40 feet into the air.

"It basically scalped him, and he fell and landed on the fence," Smith said.

Hundreds of people witnessed the accident, Smith said, and grief counselors were on hand. It was unclear whether anyone on the ride might have tried to reach McKay.

Paradise Amusements had set up rides at the Island County Fair for the past three years, Smith said.

She said the fair continued after the incident.

[StatesEnemy]

grief counselors were on hand

Man, these folks are ubiquitous!

[SamAdams76]

I am a part-time grief counselor and I am on duty this morning. If anybody needs any grief counseling after reading this article, I am available.

[CalvaryJohn]

Folks, USE YOUR BRAIN and USE IT ALL THE TIME. Little, stupid things get people killed. Pay attention and think!

[John W]

Are you also available for those of us recovering from reading the elevator decapitation article?

[MinuteGal]

They must really have some hair-raising rides at that amusement park.

Leni

[SamAdams76]

Well your anger and frustration is very understandable. It is just a tragic, tragic thing to have happened. I'm sure this Doug was a very nice man. Oh, sure, some might have made fun of him and called him a long-haired Jesus freak, but he meant no harm to anybody, I am sure. I know it is difficult in this time of sadness to express your emotions any other way but I urge you to get the anger out of your system and to instead, reflect and celebrate the life of Doug McKay.

SamAdams76 - Part-time grief counselor

[Bush2000]

What? No pictures?!?

[SamAdams76]

Are you also available for those of us recovering from reading the elevator decapitation article?

No, I wasn't on duty when that was posted. Try pinging Arthur McGowan. I think he was the Free Republic grief counselor on duty at the time.

[csvset]

[Wolfie]

[robertpaulsen]

"It basically scalped him, and he fell and landed on the fence," Smith said."

In his honor, the Super Loop 2 ride will be renamed the Super Sioux 2.

[raybbr]

Maybe one of these would have saved his life.

BTW we have this proble where I work. Women refuse to wear them but we admonish them all the time. It's only a matter of time till one of them gets it caught in a machine.

[fnord]

hold muh OOOOUUUCCCHHH!!!

[ChemistCat]

Ouch. I think that is a painful way to die.

Short hair on guys is not just sexier, it's also survival-oriented.

[joanil]

Talk about a "bad hair day"!!!

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

What elevator decapitation story?

[FITZ]

She said the fair continued after the incident.

It doesn't sound like grief was that much of a problem.

[johniegrad]

ROFL. Bet he was stoned.