FWIW, I rode the Texas Giant at Six Flags five straight times a few years ago, and ended up with a mild whiplash. Didn't complain to anyone, but my daughter and I stopped riding it after that.
Posted on 07/09/2006 7:32:17 PM PDT by RushingWater
A malfunction on an amusement park ride Sunday sent at least 20 people to hospitals, most with minor chest and neck injuries, a sheriff's office dispatcher said.
The accident happened on the Son of Beast roller coaster at Paramount's Kings Island just northeast of Cincinnati.
WCPO-TV reported that witnesses saw the roller coaster come to an abrupt stop.
Riders complained of discomfort after the coaster completed a circuit and pulled back into the boarding area, said Maureen Kaiser, a spokeswoman for the park. The park's emergency staff tended to the riders and notified authorities, Kaiser said.
Park officials shut down the ride and were examining it, Kaiser said.
The park's Web site describes the roller coaster as "the tallest, fastest and only looping wooden coaster on the planet" that hurtles down a 214-foot hill at more than 78 mph. The coaster, more than 7,000 feet long, features a 118-foot tall loop.
"The Beast" is awesome.
Son of a beast!
A lot of fond memories of "The Beast" at Kings Island, but never rode the "son of".
I remember riding "The Bat" at Kings Island when I was in high school, first generation hanging roller coaster, and that thing jerked you around corners very hard. The day after I rode it, 2 people died when it threw one of the cars off on one of those corners.
Saw a segment about this coaster on a show on the History Channel the other day -- "Superstructures", I think it was called. Impressive beast.
Eventually we are going to have roller coasters that are 2,000 feet high, travel over 40 miles of track and reach speeds of 400mph. If you think I'm nuts, just wait about 20 years. You'll see.
ouch! After reading the title, I wondered if it was my favorite park - Cedar Point in Ohio.
I wonder if anyone happened to get it on video tape.
I've ridden this coaster. It wasn't as rough as the Beast is. Seems like Son of Beast you are not harnessed in like a lot of the looping coasters?
I just look at all the little wheels and wonder what happens if just one gets hung up.
Cedar Point is buying Kings Island I heard.
FWIW, I rode the Texas Giant at Six Flags five straight times a few years ago, and ended up with a mild whiplash. Didn't complain to anyone, but my daughter and I stopped riding it after that.
No one could pay me enough to get on one of those things.........let alone me pay to get on one of them.
Its nice to have some one watch out for you even if my sister is 15 years younger than myself.
Rides like this do put some stress on the body even when functioning normally
I think this is the stupidest thing... building bigger and faster does not remotely mean better....
I'll take the last seat on the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood Park, over any huge gigantic steel coaster any day of the week. Not a damned one of those huge gawdy contraptions can give you the thrill of that ride, and it was built in I believe the 1920s.
Going "bigger and faster" is just a cop out.. I've been on short little <1000' wooden out and backs that are far more thrilling and fun than the "super coasters"
I believe it. They just scare the dickens out of me just looking at them - there ain't no way, no how anyone is gonna get me on one.
I used to love amusement part rides. Then something happened: I figured out I was mortal. The illusion of risk suddenly lost its entertainment value.
Who?
When I was but a wee young’n back in 1969, my family went on vacation to Myrtle Beach SC. I begged to get on the roller coaster – a rather tame wooden structure with no upside down loops or crazy G’s that, as of the last time I was down there to play golf, is still there in the old part of town.
It was supposed to make two circuits but stopped after the first, when the operator strongly suggested to my mother, who was riding with me that she take me off.
Apparently I wasn’t screaming but was staring straight-ahead, unblinking, white knuckled and as pale as a ghost and he was afraid I’d pass out and fall out.
Needless to say that was my first and last rollercoaster ride. Just seeing a picture of one makes my knees quiver and my heart beat way too fast to be healthy.
You all have fun. I’ll be safely on the ground eating some cotton candy and will great you when you get off. Everyday life is thrilling enough for me – Heck the Baltimore or Capital Beltway is thrilling enough - LOL!
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