Riders Injured On TTD, Suing...

you dont supose this will bring about new saftey regulations, or restrictions do you

Probably not. It does appear that there is clearance to put a plate over the catch car track that better encloses it. There would need to be a slot in the middle wide enough for the chain dog on the train to engauge the catch car.

Each of the cables should be enclosed enough not to allow fragments out. Obviously it didn't prevent that because of the incident.

My thought on how it happened is that over time abrasion to the cable in the questionable spot took a toll on several adjascent wires for a reletivly short distance. When the train launched the cable underwent more abrasion and cause a wire to snap. When that happened it pulled others with it cause a small group of wires to snap but not take the entire cable with it. The side of the catch car on the wires that brake folded back and out the hole and snapped. They hit the track and poped up scratching the train and hitting riders. All of this probably happened in a fraction of a second.

The riders obviously didn't suffer much pain and suffering because of it, but getting hit with metal fragments had to really hurt when it happened. I'm sure the idea behind the lawsuit was purely a way to grab a few bucks. I do think they screwed themselves by refusing treatment and remain in the park.

Prediction:

This will be settled out of court. Terms of said settlement will not become public.

Plaintiffs win (something, who knows what); park wins (by squelching this as quickly and quietly as possible).

Meanwhile, the American legal system lumbers forward.

That is true. CP will not want this to get out. Ride injuries are always kept very quiet, because the park wants people to come back, without being scared.

They might be keeping some big secrets from us.

Like maybe somebody died and they used a neurolizer from Men In Black to erase the memories of everybody who witnessed it. :)

But seriously, Who knows.

Perhaps the G-forces from TTD have affected key functions within TTD 120mph.

Just kidding.

ForgottenEE said:
but getting hit with metal fragments had to really hurt when it happened.

Couldn't have hurt too bad if they didn't notice it until the end of the ride.

TTD 120mph said:
They might be keeping some big secrets from us.

Like maybe somebody died and they used a neurolizer from Men In Black to erase the memories of everybody who witnessed it. :)

But seriously, Who knows.

If that was the case Cedar Point would really be in trouble....lol

If that is the case, then angent J and K will be knocking of some (upper managent)peoples doors. ;)

IF CP does settle with the kids, and gives them money, then that money should only be used towards their college education.

I think that this is only being brought up now because of the statute of limitations. They probably had so long to do something and have decided to do something before they ran out of time. Maybe they need money to buy another band-aid......

I wish people would grow up and stop being so sue-happy.

More likely, they will have a raging party for a month straight.

They would probably have a TTD poster on the wall with a plaque hanging above it that reads "PAID FOR BY."

All I have to say is that this country is just too darn sue happy, I mean if something doesnt go right, they sue the problem to get easy money. Its just a low down dirty shame that this country is getting or at the point of being controlled by lawyers. If I was one of the people that got the shards of metal, I would be like ok, and I would enjoy the rest of my day. Come on people, grow up and get some common sense!!!!!

Shawn Meyer said:
I mean this is really going to hurt Cedar Point. I hope they'll be alright.

If Cedar Point can put out tens of millions of dollars every other year for a new ride, I doubt they'll be hurting if they have to fork over 50k.
*** Edited 2/20/2005 7:19:43 PM UTC by CPMatt***

It's not so much the money but the negative publicity that could hurt them. If it stays quiet and doesn't hit the mainstream media, they should be fine, but if it really gets out they could take a hit because of it.

Disney parks have had a few horrific incidents in the past as well but it hasn't ever hurt their reputation, even though some of the accidents involved death. If CP ends up settling and paying these people the money it'll give them no less customers than last year's CP vs. Morbid Obesity fiasco.
*** Edited 2/21/2005 4:08:29 PM UTC by CPMatt***

and really how much of the Morbid Obesity fiasco hit the major airwaves? How many times on your local news did you hear about a death at Disney? People who follow the amusement industry tend to hear about that stuff much more than the general public. If this were to be blown out of proportion in the news media, it could very well have an effect on them.

Can someone please give me the link to read about this story? How exactly were they injured?

Check the pointbuzz news section for the full story. Basic story: During launch the cable started to fray going around a pulley at the tower end. The fraying resulted in little pieces of wire being thrown into the path of the oncoming train. The people sitting in the first couple rows got hit by these pieces of wire. Noone seriously injured, just some small welts more or less like mosquito bites from what I remember reading.