|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kentucky amusement park accident raising awareness |
|
|
|
By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The summer season brings countless visitors to large amusement parks and county fairs to enjoy action rides of all types, and almost always, the outings are just that, enjoyable.
But every year, unfortunately, an estimated 1,700 people are injured all over the United States from accidents on these rides.
In the wake of these types of accidents, people become concerned about their safety. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom was the scene of one of the more horrific accidents thus far this season when a teenage girl’s feet were severed after a cable broke on the Superman Tower of Power ride on June 21.
Kaitlyn Lasitter, 13, from Louisville, is being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center while the investigation of the accident continues at the park.
While these types of accidents are tragic, it is a rarity that they happen in the first place, especially in Kentucky.
Amusement ride inspections fall under the authority of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) something the Department takes seriously according to Bill Clary, KDA director of Public Relations.
“We take this very seriously,” he said. “The current program of inspections has been in place by statute for a number of years. We inspect every ride operating in the state from giant roller coasters to inflatable rides to play areas at restaurants.”
The number of initial inspections is about 5300 but the total number of inspections can be twice that according to the number of follow up inspections said Clary.
Before a ride can be put into operation whether it is at a park like Six Flags or a county fair, it has to be inspected annually. After a ride has been passed, a blue inspection sticker is placed on it.
Clary pointed out that the amusement ride industry is very safety conscious and that insurance rates for such companies could become very expensive for those who have compliance issues. Each company/operator must submit an annual application and payment for a permit in order to operate their business and comply with state laws.
“Last year we only had seven instances where inspectors had to go out, mostly due to breakdowns that were extremely minor,” Clary said. “And there hasn’t been a fatality in the state, related to amusement rides, in over 20 years.”
It is a long specialized process inspectors go through before being allowed to inspect rides. Clary said the normal time frame for an inspector to do their job alone, is three to five years. That inspector must work with one more experienced in that span of time. Inspectors also have continuous update training as rides have become bigger and more complex.
“For the most part, everything we do is behind the scenes and off the public radar. Unfortunately it’s not something people think about unless something happens,” said Clary. “We encourage people to contact us if they see a problem or don’t see an inspection sticker on a ride.”
The ride in question at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom has received satisfactory marks, according to inspection records from the past couple years with the latest coming on April 5, 2007. The ride incidentally lifts passengers 177 feet straight up and then drops them at speeds reaching 54 miles per hour.
KDA reports the investigation will take several weeks. “The process of determining conclusively why this incident took place is a lengthy one,” said Dr. Wilbur Frye, Ph.D., executive director of the KDA’s Office of Consumer and Environmental Protection. “Our investigators are analyzing a tremendous volume of evidence in order to piece together exactly what happened. It’s more important to be right than to be fast.”
The ride on which the incident took place will remain under a stop operation order from KDA until the investigation is complete, Frye said. Once the investigation ends, Department inspectors will analyze and test the ride before it is reopened.
KDA investigators continue to take written statements from witnesses. The ride inspectors are reviewing witness statements and analyzing physical evidence and photographs of the scene. The KDA has been in contact with the ride’s manufacturer, Intamin Ltd.
This farm news was published in the July 11, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 7/11/2007 |
|
|
