Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Coaster Restraints Questioned
After an accident last Saturday where a man fell out of the Superman: Ride of Steel coaster and died, the restraint system used on that type of coaster is being investigated and Massachusetts has stopped the operation of all rides in the state that use that system. Other parks across the country may halt their rides to do safety checks.
Intamin of Switzerland designed the coaster and that style of harness is used on similar coasters across the world including the other two Superman rides at Six Flags parks and Millennium Force at Cedar Point. This isn't the first time an Intamin restraint has failed and lead to someone's injury or death. You can get information about them at the WFSB link above.
More recent creations of Intamin (like Top Thrill Dragster) have a slightly redesigned restraint that is more comfortable and secure (we assume). You can see the how the bar is bent on the new style as compared to the old style and how the soft part is slightly different. It wouldn't be too far fetched to believe that Six Flags may ask for new style restraints on their Intamin rides. However, a world-wide recall of all the coaster trains would be surprising.
We won't know anything until the state makes its report.
