Police released a 900-plus page report in November containing more than 100 interviews with witnesses, some of whom gave conflicting statements about how Joshua, a child with developmental disabilities, fell from the 224-foot-tall ride. "I was standing five feet from where he fell when he did die," said Joshua's mother, Tami Smurphat. According to the park this is the first serious accident on this attraction, which is one of the most popular rides at the park. In the third case, a 12-year-old mentally and physically disabled boy died after slipping from a roller-coaster car that free-falls 22 stories. In documents released by the state, the general manager of Funtime, the manufacturer of the Orlando Freefall ride writes about seat and shoulder restraint. AP Photo by Paul Sakuma, View of Paramount's Great America Drop Zone Stunt Tower ride in Santa "But what we're saying is that our investigation and the police investigation were not able to determine an exact cause.". My sister and I ran right over to him, but it was obvious he was dead," he said. Its the responsibility of the industry to look out for those who cant--or wont--look out for themselves, said Ed Pribonic, an independent ride inspector. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills at least 36, injures some 85, Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak, House select committee hearing paints China as a strategic antagonist, JetBlue flight forced to abort landing in close call at Logan Airport, Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settles claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M, Bald eagle couple lays new egg after losing eaglets two years in a row. Owner double checked all the lifts. They then are hoisted 200 feet up a tower and free-fall about two-thirds of the way down, reaching speeds of 62 m.p.h., before braking to a halt. Unfortunately, her left foot was unable to be saved and was eventually amputated. Michael Dwaileebe, 37, of Olean, N.Y., suffered rib fractures and internal injuries when he fell about eight feet from the ride, which was equipped with T-shaped lap bars but no seat belts. On July 5, 1989, Michael Dorsey, a young boy of 9-years-old allegedly jumped out of the Loggers' Run boat as it was going up the flume. It's my life. Police and park officials were investigating. "I saw my son fly off of the ride. Santa Clara, CA -- A 12-year old boy fell to his death Sunday afternoon while riding the Drop Zone freefall thrill ride at Paramount's Great America. ", The DropZone is a 224-foot tall freefall tower that drops six four-passenger cars down 207 feet at speeds of up to 60 mph. Officials at the park, which is located about 20 miles north of Richmond, released few details about the incident. Santa Clara County court records indicate that the lawsuit was dismissed after a settlement was reached. The park was ordered to pay only $70,000 in the civil penalty case. While changes could protect the lives of other kids, its too late for Tyre,his father said. "At the end of the day these are manufacturer-based decisions," said Brian Avery, an amusement ride safety expert, when asked about adding a secondary belt. She was taken to Miami Valley Hospital with did not survive. Joshua Smurphat's fatal fall at Paramount's Great America amusement park in 1999 was caused by a malfunctioning harness on a drop tower ride. "The woman slammed into a beam [and] the child just flew," she explains. Smurphat filed a lawsuit against the park, alleging that they left four unsupervised youths to run the 207-foot free-fall thrill ride and disregarded calls for the installation of a safety strap between the ride's seat and the harness. Last August, a preliminary investigation by park inspectors and police ruled out mechanical error. "I was standing five feet from where he fell when he did die," said Tami Smurphat. "When the vehicle is in motion, there is no way to unlock it," he said. Failure Analysis Associates, an inspection firm under contract by Great America, also is looking into the accident. "We are asking the court to fast-track the case. Yet even if you are following the rules and are just there to enjoy the rides, there is still a chance that the operator will make a fatal human error or, even worse, the ride itself will malfunction, quickly turning a massive steel roller coaster into someone's cursed ride of death. Kimi Yoshino is the former manager editor of the Los Angeles Times. Ari Emanuel lets his AI alter ego open Endeavors earnings call, Sam Bankman-Fried increasingly isolated as another associate takes a plea deal, Column: Uber and Lyfts deactivation policy is dehumanizing and unfair. He is seeking $15 million in punitive damages, funeral expenses and attorney fees. Rides should be designed to withstand all foreseeable circumstances--to include unconsciousness, wiggling and obesity, Dodge said. A 15-year-old friend riding with Christopher reported seeing him begin to fall out of the ride even though the seat-belt was still fastened. Hes been advocating for the belts to be required. It takes you back to those moments when you find out that your loved one has passed in this way," Smurphat's sister, Alicia OLeary, told Fox 35. "It appears on first blush to be an accidental death," said Santa Clara police Sgt. Lyrics to Mack & Ryan Lewis feat. On August 23, 1999 a strange and terrifying incident occurred at Paramount's Great America amusement park in Santa Clara. The Verrckt slide has since been closed and is not expected to reopen for the rest of the year. "I saw the bar fly up after the ride started braking to stop," said Garyd Winslow of Ben Lomond, who was waiting in line for the ride when Joshua died. AP Photo/family photo, Tami Smurphat, the victim's mother. The mother, Lindsay Kukich, explained to police that she received an OK from the go-kart operator to take the child on the ride. Her body had connected with a tunnel attached to the ride and her body was described to be nearly in half. His mom saw it all. Representatives of the amusement park in Santa Clara said yesterday they could not confirm or deny whether the harness was open. The lady was allowed to ride the ride by the instructions that we were given by the manufacturer, Falfas said. Witnesses stated that the boy began trying to slip out of the harness when they began their ascension up the tower, and once the ride dropped into free-fall, Joshua allegedly fell out. Santa Clara, CA -- A 12-year old boy fell to his death Sunday afternoon while riding the Drop Zone freefall thrill ride at Paramount's Great America. Douglas Smith, an associate professor of neurosurgery explains that when the head moves that quickly on a roller coaster, the brain is also moving or "deforming" inside the skull, and if this occurs too quickly it is possible to suffer serious brain injuries. The entire ride was to be taken out of commission for the rest of the day--but not until the final group of riders, including Joshua, were given their turn. It was later reported that she was on the inside of the ride's barrier when the accident happened. Joshua Smurphat fell from the Drop Zone ride at Paramount's Great. Witness Tammy Matczak described seeing the two bodies fly into the air. Ryan had gone to Worlds of Fun amusement park with a group of friends the day of the fatal accident in 1995. The youngster had been strapped into the "free fall" ride with a steel harness at the beginning of the ride, authorities said, noting that there have been no other serious accidents on the ride since it opened in 1996. The Horrifying Death Of Joshua Smurphat | The INFAMOUS Drop Zone Stunt Tower Disaster Disastrous 3.72K subscribers Subscribe 11K views 1 month ago #themepark #accidentnews #dropzone The. Park officials could not say from what height the boy fell, but it is believed that he died instantly. How do we create a person's profile? Great America park officials near the scene of the accident at Drop Zone where Joshua Smurphat, 12 years old, died while on the ride Sunday. In light of the most recent death, that of a 40-year-old Duarte woman on Sept. 21 at Knotts Berry Farm, lawyers and safety advocates believe both manufacturers and amusement parks need to take a closer look at establishing weight limits for their rides or warning heavy patrons that they might be at risk. After he was launched into the air, Charron's harness disconnected and he fell over 100-feet to the ground below. #inline-recirc-item--id-91e18158-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { The Family of 12-year-old Joshua Smurphat was on a drop ride at a California amusement park when he slipped out of his seat and fell to his death. Park officials, in a written statement, declined to comment on that accident. Both Intamin and park officials have denied responsibility. The three Intamin accidents occurred on different types of rides at different amusement parks and involved different restraints. According to witnesses, Smurphat's restraint popped open mid-ride, sending him plunging to his death. If we are relying on the mental or physical capability of a rider to retain [him- or herself] in the ride, then were putting the burden on the wrong person.. Kernacs blamed rider error, saying Smurphat should have been better supervised. The friend, Jay Lingenfelter, 35, also said the accident seemed to occur when the ride's magnetic breaking system engaged more than halfway down the tower. I think about it all day. On Sunday, April 20, 1997 at Bell's Amusement Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma a 14-year-old boy was killed on the roller coaster The Wildcat. Dwaileebe, who weighed more than 300 pounds, came out of that ride like a cork out of a champagne bottle, said his attorney, Francis M. Letro, who has filed a $5-million lawsuit against Intamin and Six Flags. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Although the pond was roped off, there were no signs that the water itself was dangerous. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Kevin Fagan is a longtime, award-winning reporter at The San Francisco Chronicle, specializing in homelessness, enterprise news-feature writing, breaking news and crime. ORLANDO, Fla. - Tyre Sampson would have turned 15 years old on Wednesday. Tyres father, Yarnell Sampson, sang with the others. The loss of Tyre was a tragic accident that we take very seriously." "I saw everything," Smurphat said. Sign up for the California Politics newsletter to get exclusive analysis from our reporters. "You don't go to an amusement park and leave without your child. "Frankly, it takes you back. Over a decade ago, 14-year-old Ryan Bielby died on the Timber Wolf roller coaster in Kansas City. "He played in a special Little League team for disabled children.". Although investigators acknowledged that her intoxication may have played a role, the report stated: No matter what physical or mental state the victim was in, the restraints should have been sufficient to keep her in her seat until the conclusion of the ride., Riders Need Warning of Risks, Advocates Say. Another report places Foss at the loading area and witnesses claim that he was actually run over by a fast-moving train. One manager said he found it hard to believe that the safety harness could pop open, regardless of what people may have thought they saw. I think thats part of the reason. The Oklahoma Department of Labor inspected the ride only two weeks prior to the deadly accident. 2023 FOX Television Stations, from WED 3:26 AM EST until WED 9:00 AM EST, Orange County, Osceola County, Joshua Smurphat was on a drop ride at a California amusement park, Florida man high on meth gets life for DUI crash that killed 2 girls, grandfather, Buc-ee's one step closer to opening new Central Florida location, Pedestrian hit and killed while walking on I-4, FHP says, Wreckage of US Navy submarine from World War II found off Japans coast, Affidavit details moments around deadly shootings of Orlando journalist, 9-year-old girl, Video shows moment deputies say Florida teacher's aide is knocked unconscious by student upset she took Switch, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, 'We dont believe it was random': New piece of evidence surfaces in murder of Kissimmee man, Student's history raises questions over alternative school options, Lakefront chaos: Man on jet ski arrested for allegedly slapping 68-year-old woman. "But we have to look at all the parameters and explore all the avenues -- maintenance records and employee experience. Tripadvisor names the world's top 25 beaches, three in the U.S. Pennsylvania police seized gloves, flashlight from home of Idaho murders suspect, CDC warns drug-resistant stomach bug a "serious public health threat". A family friend who was present at the time of Joshua's death said that the accident seemed to occur when the ride's magnetic breaking system engaged more than halfway down the tower. The emergency brake also failed. Dwaileebe could not be reached for comment. And that is why there should be an emergency stop button available for anyone to press. "It freaked me out. Park officials declined to comment because of the pending lawsuit but made the safety changes before reopening the ride. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. They also will examine the ride equipment and try to determine if anyone wanted to hurt Joshua, who was mentally and physically disabled. You must be this tall to ride. A disabled 12-year-old boy died after plummeting from an amusement park ride that was about to be shut down for a safety check. Joshua's death was the second fatal accident at Great America in the past two years and the fourth since the park opened 23 years ago. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. The bouquet appeared to be the last comment by the family for now. The family says 12-year-old Joshua Smurphat was on a drop ride at a California amusement park when slipped out of his seat and fell to his death. Kyle Foss was one of the passengers who was ejected from the train and landed fatally on the rocks below. "A secondary safety system will hopefully prevent a death. Park officials said that the same section of the park would remain closed on Monday, but the rest of the park would open as scheduled. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. ", The Family of 12-year-old Joshua Smurphat was on a drop ride at a California amusement park when he slipped out of his seat and fell to his death. The other boy apparently jumped to safety on an emergency platform. After the car hit a sharp turn, the mother and daughter were thrown violently out of the ride while witnesses watched in horror. The rider sits without a seatbelt, while the feet hang freely. Gary Winslow, who was waiting in line for the ride when Joshua died, told SFGate in 1999 he "saw the bar fly up after the ride started braking to stop.". The young girls death shocked the community as it was the first fatality to happen at the amusement park since it opened in 1973. 2023 FOX Television Stations, from WED 3:26 AM EST until WED 9:00 AM EST, Orange County, Osceola County, Florida man high on meth gets life for DUI crash that killed 2 girls, grandfather, Buc-ee's one step closer to opening new Central Florida location, Pedestrian hit and killed while walking on I-4, FHP says, Wreckage of US Navy submarine from World War II found off Japans coast, Affidavit details moments around deadly shootings of Orlando journalist, 9-year-old girl, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, 'We dont believe it was random': New piece of evidence surfaces in murder of Kissimmee man, Student's history raises questions over alternative school options, Lakefront chaos: Man on jet ski arrested for allegedly slapping 68-year-old woman, Matanzas High student to be charged as adult in attack against teacher's aid: court docs. Use of this site is governed by our Terms Of Service and Privacy Policy. This Walking Pad treadmill made getting 10,000 steps a You can still overpack the smaller Monos check-in suitcase, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). After plummeting from an amusement park ride about to be closed for a safety check, a disabled 12-year-old boy died. display: block; The Sunnyvale boys family has filed a lawsuit against the park and Intamin, contending that the shoulder harness was not in a locked position and that the rides design allows it to start even if the restraints arent secured. OLeary says in both cases, the boys were strapped in only with a shoulder harness no additional belt. When 10-year-old Caleb Schwab went down the extreme 168ft Verrckt slide (the tallest water slide in the world), he was ejected out of the raft and suffered fatal injuries to his neck. Both the company and the park have denied responsibility. A 523 error means that Cloudflare could not reach your host web server. Joshua's mother, Tami Smurphat, told television station KTVU she was still reeling from the horror of having witnessed her son's death. Five people were slightly injured Monday when a piece of decorative wood came loose from the track of a Knotts Berry Farm roller coaster ride in Buena Park, Calif. Also in California, a disabled 12-year-old boy died Sunday after plummeting from an amusement park ride that was about to be shut down for a safety check. However, due to the owners negligence of the terrifying reverse-bungee ride, Charron was entering a ticking time bomb. "He's the most lovable little kid," said family friend Bill Enos. M&D's Tsunami, 2016 The Grizzly, a roller coaster near Great America's Drop Zone, also was shut down yesterday to give investigators better access to the Drop Zone, but other than that, rides ran as usual, said park spokesman Timothy Chanaud. According to the friends who witnessed the traumatic experience, the story goes that Ryan's lap bar malfunctioned during a sharp turn on the roller coaster and this caused her to be thrown from the ride. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Elizabeth Holmes cites her new baby as a reason she should avoid prison for Theranos scam, ChatGPT who? A separate Cal-OSHA investigation has not been completed. It was discovered that Hackemer was not thrown out of the ride until the last hill, its peak reaching 208 feet. All Family Trees results for smurphat. 147.135.45.126 An employee claimed that the "electric eyes" engineered to keep the trains separated had apparently failed and explained that "two systems had to break down for this to occur." #inline-recirc-item--id-91e18158-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91e18158-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { Give a trial date, so this family can get answers," Crump said. And I love my son unconditionally.". Tami Smurphat said she is convinced her son would be alive today if the park had taken more precautions. Rosa Ayala-Goana Esparza was 52-years-old the day that she tragically died on the roller coaster called "The Texas Giant" at Six Flags. Click to reveal About Us Chanaud described the boy as "severely disabled, both mentally and physically," but said the disabilities should not have prevented him from riding safely. The 100-acre amusement park California's Great America is located in Santa Clara, California. The suit, which seeks unspecified damages for willful misconduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress, was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court yesterday -- the same day that Joshua's headstone was delivered to his grave in Santa Clara, Smurphat said. Although the ride had passed inspection, Ventures replaced the strap which connected the harness to the bungee cord with one half as thick as the regulated strap had been. 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