Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Charlie on May 02, 2004, 10:14:26 PM

Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Charlie on May 02, 2004, 10:14:26 PM
AGAWAM, Massachusetts (AP) -- A 55-year-old man with cerebral palsy died Saturday when he fell out of a roller coaster at an amusement park, according to park officials and a newspaper report.

Stanley J. Mordarsky of Bloomfield, Conn., fell out of the Superman Ride of Steel roller coaster as it was approaching the end of its run at the Six Flags New England amusement park, park officials said.

"All of a sudden people started screaming, 'Stop the ride, stop the ride,' someone has fallen off," eyewitness Sara Syez told WHDH-TV in Boston.

"They finally stopped the ride and it was extreme panic and we looked and all the people in the cars were crying ... and we looked over to the side and there was a gentleman laying by the fence."

Mordarsky was pronounced dead 45 minutes later at a local hospital, the park said.

The victim's 82-year-old mother, Germaine Mordarsky, told The Hartford Courant her son had cerebral palsy and used a scooter for transportation. She said her son liked to visit the park 90 miles west of Boston two or three times a year.

"I can't understand why they would let him on a ride like that in the first place. He was so sickly and handicapped. I just can't believe it," she said.

Park spokeswoman Mary Ann Burns said there are ride requirements to ensure safety, and guidelines for the disabled, The Courant reported.

She would not comment further.

The ride was closed immediately and park officials, police and the state are investigating. It was not known late Saturday what caused the accident.

Park officials said the roller coaster had been inspected Saturday morning and was certified for operation by state certified inspectors before the park's season opening on April 17.




OK, who's to blame on this one?

Charlie
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Lizking on May 02, 2004, 10:38:03 PM
Mr Gravity?
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: thrila on May 02, 2004, 10:58:32 PM
The guys in charge probably let him ride outta fear of being called prejudiced or offending anyone if they hadn't allowed him on.  So i blame this on PC crap etc.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Charlie on May 02, 2004, 11:12:43 PM
True but I am trying to figure out how a man falls out of a roller coaster, nevermind if he has a obvious physical condition. Here in Australia you are either strapped in or shoulder bars prevent you from falling out.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Fishu on May 02, 2004, 11:19:04 PM
Sometimes the safety mechanism do fail.

Couple of years back here was such a case where in some amusement machine.
It's a machine which does pretty much resemble roller coaster,  but only does a round vertically, where people will be upside down on top of it.
During this occasion the safety mechanism opened and person riding it almost fell, but luckily was able to get a hang of something and didn't fall..
The safety mechanism was quite a simple padded steel bar, which you lower over your shoulders and chest.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Sixpence on May 02, 2004, 11:28:29 PM
I still want to go here (http://www.cedarpoint.com/) and do this (http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/inside_park/rides/thrill/millennium/index.cfm) and this (http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/inside_park/rides/thrill/meanstreak.cfm) and this (http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/inside_park/rides/thrill/raptor.cfm)
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Saurdaukar on May 02, 2004, 11:29:51 PM
Quote
Originally posted by thrila
The guys in charge probably let him ride outta fear of being called prejudiced or offending anyone if they hadn't allowed him on.  So i blame this on PC crap etc.


^
Title: Re: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Drunky on May 02, 2004, 11:37:22 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Charlie
The victim's 82-year-old mother, Germaine Mordarsky, told The Hartford Courant her son had cerebral palsy and used a scooter for transportation. She said her son liked to visit the park 90 miles west of Boston two or three times a year.


He didn't ride his scooter to the park.  Someone managed to get him there.  If he wasn't in the right frame of mind to understand the dangers of a roller coaster right then I would imagine whomever brought him there would have.

Obviously we must sue the park.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Charlie on May 02, 2004, 11:48:57 PM
come to think of it, doesn't all rides in parks come with a disclosure that people who have bad backs, heart conditions and are not at the height required etc etc not allowed on the ride.

How could anyone think that this man - with his condition - was ok to ride the roller coaster? PC or not!

Charlie
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: rpm on May 02, 2004, 11:51:07 PM
Before we start dividing up the settlement money, why not wait to see the investigator's report?:confused:
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Nash on May 02, 2004, 11:55:37 PM
He went out doing what he loved doing. For some people, it's a heart attack on top of some 20 year old chick. For him it was roller coasters.

The rest of us should be so lucky.

God Speed you trooper!
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: capt. apathy on May 03, 2004, 12:07:03 AM
Quote
How could anyone think that this man - with his condition - was ok to ride the roller coaster? PC or not!


what about having cerebral palsy would make a guy more likely to fall from a roller coaster?  

I'm by no means a medical expert but as a kid one of my friends sister had it.  she explained it to me, it's been awhile but IIRC CP basicly effects your brains ability to signal your body.  so you look and talk like you're drunk but are still funtioning mentally.

it'd be one thing if a guy with a spinally injury came off a coaster paralized, a heart condition cause a death, or a prego had pre-mature labor or something like that, but I have a hard time imagining how this type of medical condition would cause you to be more likely to be thrown from the car.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: NUKE on May 03, 2004, 12:08:32 AM
I usually look normal, but am drunk.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Charlie on May 03, 2004, 12:19:49 AM
Quote
what about having cerebral palsy would make a guy more likely to fall from a roller coaster?....... CP basicly effects your brains ability to signal your body


your answer would be here

Quote
her son had cerebral palsy and used a scooter for transportation


If one needs transportation (i.e scooter) to walk, then going at high speeds in a rollercoaster would be the least best thing for him IMHO.

CB
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Nash on May 03, 2004, 12:30:25 AM
'cares about the scooter bit?

Those things oughta be able to safely situate a sack of potatoes. If it demands something on my part as far as motor reflexes go, I think there oughta be some training involved as to what they are and how one applies those skills in avoiding car spilliage.

Sadly, 5 gallon buckets are my priority now. This will have to wait.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: capt. apathy on May 03, 2004, 12:33:03 AM
why?  the roller coaster does all the moving, you don't have to walk up the track or anything. in fact every one I ever road you sat down at the start of the ride and didn't have to do any walking until the end.

life  and the laws of physics put enough limits on people in his condition.  unless there is a situation where his condition is a direct risk, let him enjoy what he can out of life.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Tarmac on May 03, 2004, 12:55:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Charlie
If one needs transportation (i.e scooter) to walk, then going at high speeds in a rollercoaster would be the least best thing for him IMHO.


Regarding what's best for him, your opinion doesn't matter.  It should be up to him and his guardian (if he has one) whether he is of sound physical and/or mental condition to ride the roller coaster.  Of course it's within the park's rights to deny him access, but if he appears of sound mind and reasonable body what grounds do you have for keeping him off?
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: NUKE on May 03, 2004, 12:57:22 AM
He wouldn't be the first person to die this year at amusment parks.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: capt. apathy on May 03, 2004, 01:20:03 AM
I can hardly ride amuzment park rides anymore (especially the traveling carnival type).

when I was a kid I used to love them but since I've learned to weld it's pretty easy to recognise that most of the guys who welded those things together don't know how.

I haven't been to any of the big parks since I was a kid (no disney or six-flags around here) and I'd expect their quality control is much tighter.

but I've had aprentices who have been welding less than 3 weeks do better than most of the welds on your average carnival ride.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Nash on May 03, 2004, 02:02:19 AM
Way to go capt.

I'm almost done flying because of this place, and now I can't even ride the tilt-a-whirl.

Thanks. Thanks a lot.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: SOB on May 03, 2004, 02:04:26 AM
LOL, I just pictured Nash sitting on a bench next to the Tilt-a-whirl with a sad look on his face and a tear rolling down one cheek.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Creamo on May 03, 2004, 02:26:20 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Nash
He went out doing what he loved doing. For some people, it's a heart attack on top of some 20 year old chick. For him it was roller coasters.

The rest of us should be so lucky.

God Speed you trooper!


LOL!
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Staga on May 03, 2004, 02:33:25 AM
"Get a Ride of your Life"

Anyways guy went out in a bang; that's better than that just fade away :)
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Lizking on May 03, 2004, 07:21:51 AM
LOL, I just pictured Nash sitting on a bench next to the Tilt-a-whirl with a sad look on his face and a tear rolling down one cheek.



He won't be sitting on a bench, rather an upturned 5 gallon.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: lazs2 on May 03, 2004, 08:19:58 AM
liz.. I picture him avoiding the tiltowheel and tripping, landing head first into rainwater filledbucket, and drowning in said 5 gallon bucket while the screams of kids on the tiltowhirl cover his struggles.

capt... A welder?   I thought you had a useful sound to you.   We can never have too many welders.   That makes about 4 useful people I have found on this board so far.  

lazs
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: GtoRA2 on May 03, 2004, 10:03:49 AM
Someone take Nash for a long walk on the beach!
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: AcId on May 03, 2004, 10:18:16 AM
The really sad part about this is that most peoples initial reaction is "so....who do we sue?" :rolleyes:

Not the members here mind you....just 'most peoples' in general.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Airhead on May 03, 2004, 10:42:38 AM
lazs, an accident like that could never happen in California- it's a felony to posess a bucket within 100 yards of any school, day care center or amusement park.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Sandman on May 03, 2004, 10:43:48 AM
It's been awhile since I read the stats on roller coasters, but by and large, most injuries (and deaths) were due to people circumventing the safety features.

Oh... and Nash, I picked up yet another 5 gallon bucket this weekend. :)
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: gofaster on May 03, 2004, 11:32:16 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Nash
He went out doing what he loved doing. For some people, it's a heart attack on top of some 20 year old chick. For him it was roller coasters.


Kinda like the guy with terminal cancer that jumped out of a biplane and ended up in someone's backyard, to the shock and horror of the children playing there.

Which makes me go "hmmmmm....."
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: GtoRA2 on May 03, 2004, 11:42:57 AM
Hey Sandy, what is your avatar from?
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: gofaster on May 03, 2004, 11:47:28 AM
Quote
Originally posted by GtoRA2
Hey Sandy, what is your avatar from?


Looks like "Office Space" when Michael Bolton is beating the crap out of the fax machine after getting laid off.  That's Samir on the right and Peter on the left coming up behind him to pull him off the twisted mass of metal and plastic.
Title: Man falls out of roller coaster
Post by: Sandman on May 03, 2004, 12:44:07 PM
Quote
Originally posted by gofaster
Looks like "Office Space" when Michael Bolton is beating the crap out of the fax machine after getting laid off.  That's Samir on the right and Peter on the left coming up behind him to pull him off the twisted mass of metal and plastic.


That would be it. :D