Boy Decapitated by Batman Ride at Georgia Six Flags

[rcoaster]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,373341,00.htmlAUSTELL, Ga. - Cobb County police are investigating a death at Six Flags over Georgia in which a teen-age boy reportedly was decapitated, according to WXIA television in Atlanta.

Authorities told the NBC affiliate's Web site, 11Alive.com that around 2:30 p.m. that the boy was decapitated when he was struck by the Batman ride, a coaster at the amusement park that can travel as fast as 50 miles per hour. The park is just west of Atlanta.

According to a Six Flags representative, a group of young people jumped over a perimeter fence near the Batman ride as it was coming. The teen was then struck and killed.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on its Web site, ajc.com, that the teen's family was at the park with him when the accident occurred.

"We do not know why this person was intent on gaining access to this restricted area, as multiple signs clearly state: Danger Zone/Do Not Enter/Authorized Personnel Only," park spokeswoman Hela Sheth said in a statement reported by the Web site.

"Some witnesses have stated that the individual was trying to retrieve something he had lost," Sheth said. "Others reported that he was trying to touch the ride. This is merely speculation at this point, and we are working with park visitors and local police to learn more."

No one on the ride was injured, Sheth said in the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family," the Six Flags statement said. Cobb County police declined to confirm reports that the teen was decapitated, according to the newspaper Web site.

According to Six Flags' Web site, the coaster was first introduced in 1997 and is close to 11 stories tall. It includes two vertical loops, two corkscrews and a heartline spin that produces a "feeling of weightlessness."

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

[zjohn1988]

That's why we have a barbed wire fence..sad thing and i hope it doesn't negatively affect our BTR.

Another article.. http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=8573421

[rcoaster]

There are many versions of what happened. What is known is that he was struck and was slammed into a support beam. He died instantly. The stories of the witnesses tell that he was getting something, he tried grabbing a rider's leg, or he tried touching the track. I can't imagine how that family feels, but he was 17... He should've had some more sense to what was going on. His friend ducked (who was in the area too) but he didn't. He shouldn't have even been there.... I hope this doesn't sink Six Flags lower...

[rb1]

Damn Teens!! Dont they ever use their brain to think anymore. So sad this happenned.

[FParker185]

I have no pity whatsoever for the ignorant. He got exactly what he deserved.

[Demon_07]

I hope this doesn't effect our batman..

[bigb7965]

jesus christ!


decapitated means his head came off right?

[[jonrev]]

Seems like common sense isn't that common anymore.

[jm2775]

That's why we have a barbed wire fence..sad thing and i hope it doesn't negatively affect our BTR.

Another article.. http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=8573421

Wow...does the media suck. If you watch the 45 second video on this site, the headline reads "Deadly Ride" and they mention the Kentucky Kingdom accident. The headline should say something like Accident at Park, but they go with "Deadly Ride"

[cowboy1192]

Seems like common sense isn't that common anymore.

You said it best bro.

As Charles Barkley would put it "There are too many knuckleheads out there."

[DejaVuGurl1203]

I have no pity whatsoever for the ignorant. He got exactly what he deserved.

As horrible as it sounds, I'm with you on that one. If he was actually trying to touch the ride, or grab someone's leg, umm... that's pretty freaking moronic. I've seen people go into the ride area for SUF a few times, it makes me crazy. Just glad that the ride does not go low enough to hit somebody, unless they actually decide to jump over the fence to the pretzel loop... That's just suicide.

As I've said since I was 6 or 7 years old... The world is full of idiots!

[FRD714]

I have no pity whatsoever for the ignorant. He got exactly what he deserved.

Agreed. When I first saw this story on the Comcast homepage, I thought it was another ride malfunction.

[Chitown]

Well folks, I think we have our 2008 Darwin award winner.

[diggerg56]

The latest story in the Atlanta paper says that the kid that was killed and another kid from a church group had left the park to get something to eat. When they came back they decided to "take a shortcut" and climbed over the park perimeter fence and then for whatever reason they also climbed over the fence into the Batman ride area. There's conflicting info on why they might have climbed into the ride area. That's stupidity times two if you ask me.

The sad thing is that every news story manages to dredge up some previous accident from somewhere and include it in this story. One of the AP versions even mentioned the SFKK accident. They're not even similar in any way but some people (including our old buddy Senator Markey) will turn this into another amusement park safety issue.

Thoughts and prayers to the family but this was just plain stupid.

[FParker185]

the sad thing is in Europe most rides dont even have fences. Well most park rides do, but at carnivals there are no fences, if you are dumb enough to walk onto or into the path of a high speed ride, you are free to do so and accept the consequences, yet you never hear of anyone dying there from doing stupid stuff. Now this kid scaled 2 6 foot fences in order to commit this stupid act. I dont think we'll see any changes on any other rides, cause honestly what more can you do to protect against this? have 3 fences rather than 2? put a 50Kv fence between midways and rides? completely cage in ground level parts of rides completely? guard dogs?

Some people are just born stupid and no matter what you do they will find ways to remove themselves from the gene pool.

Some people (well not here) are saying it was just a teenager and what teen doesn't push the limits? It's part of the learning curve, but there is a really big difference between screwing around on construction sites, skateboarding in traffic, spraying graffiti on walls and experimenting with drugs/alcohol vs. scaling multiple fences into a clearly marked dangerous ride area in order to do whatever it was he was trying to do. Just a case of fatal stupidity, and I really hope the park doesnt get sued over this, and if they do it should be thrown out of court before it ever makes it to trial, if the case would even be accepted by a court somewhere.

[RBull4life]

^ That statement is just absurd.

jesus christ!


decapitated means his head came off right?

Yes.

Give it a week, and you will see a lawsuit. There is not much else to say except I feel for the kids family and friends, but NOT for the kid. At 17, I would think commonsense would have kicked in by then, and when a fence, and several signs informing you DANGER, RESTRICTED AREA, and EMPLOYEES ONLY are clearly marked,a 17 year old would say to themselves "hmmmm, I shouldn't go in there." Hell, why not have the people who were on the ride at the time, and witnessed it, sue the church group that the teenager(s) was with. I am sure if your leg smacked into somebody while you were going 50mph, it would cause some hurt. His (her) stupidity was a risk to the passengers of the coaster.

I agree with Chitown, we have our Darwin award winner for the year.

Damn, stupidity gets me so mad!!!!

[Jackluver18]

I do feel bad for the kids parents but as you guys stated, you would think a 17 year would have the brains to not go into a restricted area. It's a freaking hat for pete's sake if that was the case of him getting a hat, buy a new one instead of getting killed over it.

[cycamps]

^I agree with you too. People are so dumb. And even if he was going to get a hat, which he shouldn't have been in there anyways, you'd think that he would have ducked....

[Jackluver18]

Well yes people are dumb to some point, but again there were signs saying "Restricted....etc" stuff like that. If he was smart, he would have told a ride op or someone that had business being under there to go get it that's what they are there for, if you have questions or if you need help go ask them.

[saylorman47]

This article goes into many details about the incident http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/06/28/six_flags_death.html

also mentions the SWF incident down below

[Bob O]

In this case I feel sorry for the SF company. Because most stories will also talk about other accidents where people got hurt or killed and not fully explain that the injuries/death werent a result of something the company did wrong. While it is sad the person was killed, it is only because of his stupidity he is dead. There is no good reason at all for him to be where he was.

And also sadly the park will get sued and also may payout a settlement. You know every money grubbing trail lawyer in the area will descend on the family and will file a suit claiming some sign wasnt large enough etc and file suits. And with the pathetic state of jury awards in this country a smooth talking lawyer may be able to sweet talk a jury into giving out money because they feel sad for thr family and not because the park did anything wrong. Sad;y sometimes companies pay out a little money because it is cheaper than taking the risk of idiots on a jury giving out a large reward.

[yamcha]

What possible lawsuit can come from this? I can only see two

1 Why do the rides have to be that close to the ground?

2 Where was Security / park employees?

[Do I Know You]

His hat's really kinda useless now, isn't it.

[UWW-10]

Does anyone know the ASTM standard required for fences surrounding ride areas? The only way I can see anyone having a case is if the fencing didn't meet the standards. Is 6 feet the height required?

While that *might* be the case, a fence around the perimeter of anything usually signifies a boundary to keep someone or something away from a potentially hazardous situation.

The problem with B:TR is that the stations are completely enclosed, and the only monitors in the stations for the ride (at least for GAm) are of the lift, break run, and line. Perhaps a camera needs to be added to the general ride area?

[blueviola]

How could a single camera keep tabs on the whole ride area? Many cameras would have to be installed, and it would be impossible to monitor that many cameras.