Man falls out of roller coaster

[Charlie]

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

[Lizking]

Mr Gravity?

[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.

[Charlie]

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.

[Fishu]

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.

[Sixpence]

I still want to go here and do this and this and this

[Saurdaukar]

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.

^

[Drunky]

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.

[Charlie]

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

[rpm]

Before we start dividing up the settlement money, why not wait to see the investigator's report?

[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!

[capt. apathy]

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.

[NUKE]

I usually look normal, but am drunk.

[Charlie]

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

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

[Nash]

'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.