Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Girl's Feet Severed on Superman Ride
Last week, a teenage girl's legs were severed above the ankle while on the Superman Tower of Power ride at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.
A Swiss company called Intamin made the ride 14 years ago. Intamin has installed a total of 70 rides around the globe since 1979. According to Intamin, a steel cord snapped loose just as the ride reached its highest point. Eyewitnesses said the cord snapped again and moved in front of the ride as it descended. It's still unknown why the cord broke loose in the first place. I feel terrible for that little girl.
Unlike traditional roller coasters, the Superman Tower of Power is a "free fall" type ride. According to the park's web site, the ride lifts passengers 177 feet (54 meters) straight up, then drops them 154 feet (47 meters), reaching a speed of 54 mph (87 kph). Luckily the "Superman Tower of Terror" has been shut down indefinitely while park officials investigate what caused the accident.
The girl is reported to be in stable condition. Her friends describe her as "pretty" and "popular." Hopefully the first responders knew what they were doing and put the feet on ice and sent them along with her to the hospital. Unfortunately, she probably has a lifetime of surgeries and rehab ahead of her. I hope she gets a giant multi-million dollar settlement from Six Flags. Poor kid. That totally, totally sucks.
Here's a video of the Superman ride. The video was taken before the severed leg incident. The ride used to be called "Elevator" before being renamed "Superman Tower of Power."
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A Swiss company called Intamin made the ride 14 years ago. Intamin has installed a total of 70 rides around the globe since 1979. According to Intamin, a steel cord snapped loose just as the ride reached its highest point. Eyewitnesses said the cord snapped again and moved in front of the ride as it descended. It's still unknown why the cord broke loose in the first place. I feel terrible for that little girl.
Unlike traditional roller coasters, the Superman Tower of Power is a "free fall" type ride. According to the park's web site, the ride lifts passengers 177 feet (54 meters) straight up, then drops them 154 feet (47 meters), reaching a speed of 54 mph (87 kph). Luckily the "Superman Tower of Terror" has been shut down indefinitely while park officials investigate what caused the accident.
The girl is reported to be in stable condition. Her friends describe her as "pretty" and "popular." Hopefully the first responders knew what they were doing and put the feet on ice and sent them along with her to the hospital. Unfortunately, she probably has a lifetime of surgeries and rehab ahead of her. I hope she gets a giant multi-million dollar settlement from Six Flags. Poor kid. That totally, totally sucks.
Here's a video of the Superman ride. The video was taken before the severed leg incident. The ride used to be called "Elevator" before being renamed "Superman Tower of Power."
BeSocial: digg story | flickr | methodshop
Labels: medical
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