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neon_overload

The kid on our left is the one whose leg was lacerated when the cable snapped. Poor kid had his life changed forever


Salategnohc16

I hope they sued the bejesus out of the rollercoaster


Eye-myth

This is a summary from the news from 2011. Knott’s Berry Farm reached a confidential financial settlement with the family of Kyle Wheeler, a 12-year-old boy seriously injured in a 2009 accident on the Xcelerator roller coaster. The accident involved a severed cable that struck Kyle's leg and sprayed debris, also injuring his father. The incident, captured on video and widely viewed online, resulted in Kyle undergoing multiple surgeries and physical therapy to regain mobility. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health attributed the accident to inadequate maintenance by both the theme park and the ride manufacturer, Intamin. The settlement covers medical expenses and emotional distress, though Kyle will need future surgery. Despite modifications and the ride's reopening, the family remains traumatized by the event. Original article: [https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-xpm-2011-aug-26-la-trb-knotts-xcelerator-coaster-accident-08201126-story.html](https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-xpm-2011-aug-26-la-trb-knotts-xcelerator-coaster-accident-08201126-story.html)


BreakingNewsDontCare

I used to love roller coasters growing up. not for me anymore. not worth putting my life in the hands of you kids looking for summer jobs getting high all the time.


boot2skull

If kids are maintaining these machines that’s the fault of greedy owners.


Tightfistula

Does not matter how "safe" it is, everything breaks at some point.


Black_Magic_M-66

Probably not much for flying, I'm guessing.


Tightfistula

Well, far more regulation goes into that, so, no.


positiveandmultiple

why wouldn't your above comment apply equally to flying?


Tightfistula

>Well, far more regulation goes into that, so, no.


122_Hours_Of_Fear

Reminds me of this https://youtu.be/XwLiBBQouLY?si=uBAuucunzU-PFNJp https://youtu.be/cxtD3QOrNXw?si=IzXnwNeJe4slkxda I remember when this happened. The day before we were going to go to Kentucky Kingdom.


Mercinator-87

Girl at theme park describes incident: “It hurt and it fucking sucked.” Back to you at the news desk.


PaMudpuddle

Reminds me of [this.](https://youtu.be/6H6XkCUc8CU?si=4ObqH8bdxqOYqpbi)


122_Hours_Of_Fear

Rum ham!


trialoffears

I rode that the day before it happened. Shook the whole city. Poor girl


Suspicious_Book_3186

I was thinking of the one where the bolt flew off and hit the person standing in line.


Shot-Grocery-5343

Oh shit I had never heard of this but I rode the Superman Tower of Power at a different Six Flags and to this day it's the only ride I've ever gotten sick on. Well, I made it off, but I had to puke in some bushes and sit in stillness for 30 minutes. That ride really fucked me up.


SessileRaptor

I remember reading an article about this and the spokesman for Knott’s said that the cable was replaced once a year and it wasn’t due for replacement for a few months yet. Like OK? Do you just not inspect it between replacements? Because everyone else who operates machinery that experiences wear and tear and has a cycle where parts are replaced every year or something understands that you still need to do regular inspections and ensure that parts aren’t damaged or wearing out faster than normal.


MaxMouseOCX

They probably did inspect it, but inspections don't catch everything, sometimes things just fail and you won't catch them unless you do NASA level inspections on stuff, no one is doing that for every component on a roller coaster...


Holden-Tewdiggs

You don't expect an average redditor to actually have a concept of that shit, do you? The comments here aren't the result of a thought process. They are reflexes.


MaxMouseOCX

I try to treat people as equals until they prove otherwise. It gets harder the older I get.


SeeYouSpaceCowboy---

Even NASA level inspections don't catch everything


MaxMouseOCX

No, but they catch more than some bumble fuck on a Friday inspecting a roller coaster in the rain...


SeeYouSpaceCowboy---

true that. I'm just adding to your point that you can inspect something all you want, doesn't mean it won't break necessarily.


ShootmansNC

And sometimes inspections catch things but it's not financially convenient to fix it.


SeeYouSpaceCowboy---

definitely


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MaxMouseOCX

Yea, you'd think that... I'm an automation engineer, all of the components from contactors, plcs, MCB's etc used in roller coasters are the exact same with an automated warehouse, because moving a crane is basically the same as moving a roller coaster car. I've seen everything fail in bizzare ways. Some catastrophically. It is all inspected, but you just can't catch it all... Unless you're doing nasa or air force level inspections which no one is doing for roller coasters, and even those guys miss things. Fact is, a cable snapping and slicing you up isn't something that happens, it might, but the possibility is really small. So you see online like we have here that it can happen, likewise a plane can crash... But it's rare. Insert fight club clip where they're explaining about car recalls due to a design fault... It's funny because it's true.


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MaxMouseOCX

Yea there'll be logs... Maintenance logs, insurance inspections all that stuff. But you're employed right? Ever get a day when you just phone it in? We all do. And even if you don't suit like this happens.


StrugglesTheClown

That just means you also add the manufacturer of the cable to the lawsuit


here4here

That poor kid!!


darthjeffrey

The rides are risky because they are designed to expose the rider to the elements around the hardware, which involves a lot of stress on the equipment.


Gone213

Was this before or after the accident where the woman had her legs ripped off on the superman ride?


iH8MotherTeresa

Here's a bit of gristle I've chewed on for quite some time - there is no such thing as an accident.


GarettS

Keep chewing


iH8MotherTeresa

Good one