Just like any other New York business, amusement parks need to keep their property in good condition and need to take steps to prevent injuries to their guests. In addition, amusement parks must maintain their rides properly and operate them in a safe manner.
Just last week, a fatal accident in New York on a roller coaster left a 29-year-old veteran of the Iraq war without his life. His friends and family, shocked by the accident, are still reeling, but remain thankful for the time that they had with him.
While on tour in Iraq, an improvised explosive device shattered the soldier’s life, causing two strokes, the loss of both of his legs and brain damage. After three years of rehabilitation, he regained his abilities to speak and eat properly. Having lost most of his right leg and all of his left leg, he managed to persevere and decided that he would live his life to the fullest.
According to an eyewitness, the soldier and his friend were riding in the front car on the roller coaster as the cars approached a hill that jerks riders out of their seat a little. When they hit the hill, the man slipped out of his restraints, which hold onto the lower half of a rider’s body. His friend tried reaching up to save the soldier, but the ride forced them to let go of each other. When the ride finished, the friend was still in the same position as when the two let go. The teenagers behind them were screaming for help, trying to get the attention of the ride employees, but the employees believed the teenagers were just excited over the ride. Eventually, they realized what happened and investigations into the incident began.
One of the eyewitnesses, an 18-year-old, believes that the soldier should not have been allowed to ride because the ride uses a seatbelt along with a person’s thighs and ankles to restrain riders.
Source: EveningTribune.com, “Iraq war veteran dies on roller coaster ride in N.Y.,” John Anderson, 11 July 2011
