THE family of a boy who tragically fell to his death on a drop ride 24 years ago in California has called for stricter safety measures to be implemented following a recent death of a teenager in Orlando. "His mother came over in hysterics and kept yelling, 'Why didn't they put the bar down? By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 26/02/2023 | pictures of richard thomas triplets today | borax for chipmunks | pictures of richard thomas triplets today | borax for chipmunks He said the investigation could take several weeks to complete. "We've been bombarded by calls and have nothing to say now.". About 1.9 million riders use it every year. Another boy slipped out of his seat on a drop ride and fell to his death 23 years ago in California. Unfortunately, her left foot was unable to be saved and was eventually amputated. The family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Darien Lake after state officials announced that the park was to blame for Hackemer's death since the ride did not clearly state that people without legs cannot ride the roller coaster. Gayle Hokenson, 38, of Morgan Hill brought four kids to the park and said her whole group was nervous. For the 4-year-olds, the 5-year-olds and the 300-pound women, for the people at the edges, the risk rises considerably. Joshua Smurphat was 12-years-old when he got in line for Drop Tower: Scream Zone, a 224-foot tower that promises a terrifying free-fall for all the thrill seekers at the park. 3 Joshua Smurphat, who fatally fell from a ride in 1999, is remembered by his family who are pushing for stricter safety measures after a similar death Credit: Fox35 3 "You don't go to an amusement park and leave without your child. "He's the most lovable little kid," said family friend Bill Enos. In May 1999 a similar accident occurred on Superman: Ride of Steel, an Intamin roller coaster at Six Flags Darien Lakes in New York. Joshua Smurphat fell from the Drop Zone ride at Paramount's Great. 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. He said if Orlando is worried about tourism, they should take the ride down, instead of trying to keep it up with safety changes. William Haithcoat and Darrell Robertson were both 20 years-old when they died tragically in the water. Timothy Chanaud, a Great America spokesman, said yesterday that he had not seen a copy of the lawsuit, although the park's attorneys have been meeting with the family's lawyers. You must be this tall to ride. Even the carousel person is saying if you get off the horse, the ride will be stopped and you will be kicked out.". An investigation by Santa Clara police concluded that no charges should be filed against the park, which has since added a safety belt to the shoulder harness. "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. Dodge, a Maine-based independent safety consultant and former amusement-ride accident investigator. A padded bar operated by a hydraulic locking mechanism comes down over the shoulders and secures the upper torso. However, some workers and customers at Great America said yesterday that the sadness of Joshua's death seemed to cast a pall over the normally fun thrill park, which flew its flags at half-staff in Joshua's memory. A second witness, a family friend who was on the ride with Joshua, said he did not remember the boy's safety harness being checked by workers before the ride began. Kernacs said Mason-Larez--who weighed 292 pounds and had a girth of 56 inches, according to a coroners report--should not have been allowed on the ride by operators. A Long Island man died Monday night in an apparent accident on a stand-up roller coaster, a day after a 12-year-old disabled boy died on an amusement park ride in California. Morec said the Police Department may hire an independent consultant to determine how the child could have fallen. ", Mother Sues Over Son's Death on Park Ride / She contends park negligence factor in plunge, 'Zero visibility' conditions: All roads to Tahoe are closed, My meal at this landmark SF spot was too expensive to be so bad, One of the largest movie theaters in SF to close permanently, 'Really cool sight': Rare waterspout forms in Northern California, Report: Matthew McConaughey has a massive Salesforce paycheck, Man shot dead near San Francisco Ferry Building, A different horse': Bay Area will likely continue to see rain, 'Life threatening': Tahoe braces for massive blizzard, 'Lady in the fridge' murder victim ID'd as Bay Area mother of 3, Snow shuts down over 70 miles of I-80 in Northern California, Horoscope for Wednesday, 3/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, These East Bay gems are a haven for music lovers. However, due to the owners negligence of the terrifying reverse-bungee ride, Charron was entering a ticking time bomb. The family sued Six Flags for the coaster malfunction claiming that it was this that led to Esparza's untimely death. She also claims that the park disregarded a March 1996 recommendation from the Santa Clara Fire Department, which called for the installation of a safety strap between the ride's seat and the harness. In all three thrill-ride accidents, at parks in California and New York, the victims slipped free from shoulder harnesses, lap bars or seat belts. However, once Joshua was fastened into the ride, things started to go bad. In the third accident, Joshua Smurphat, a mentally disabled 12-year-old, died in August 1999 in a fall from the Drop Zone Stunt Tower at Paramounts Great America amusement park in Santa Clara, Calif. Joshua Smurphat died at 3:20 p.m. on Sunday at Paramount's Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara, California, according to park spokesman Timothy Chanaud. "We've had phone calls from people who were affected by the accident Sunday, and we have reassured them about the safety of the park," said Chanaud. Company officials blame rider and operator error. In June 2008, 17-year-old Asia Leeshawn Ferguson was horrifically decapitated by the "Batman" ride at the amusement park Six Flags Over Georgia. Click here for the latest Central Florida news, Florida stories, and local headlines. Joshua Smurphat of Sunnyvale fell from his seat on the Drop Zone Stunt Tower at Paramount's Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara while his mother watched from the ground. AP Photo by Paul Sakuma, 'Zero visibility' conditions: All roads to Tahoe are closed, My meal at this landmark SF spot was too expensive to be so bad, One of the largest movie theaters in SF to close permanently, 'Really cool sight': Rare waterspout forms in Northern California, Report: Matthew McConaughey has a massive Salesforce paycheck, Man shot dead near San Francisco Ferry Building, A different horse': Bay Area will likely continue to see rain, 'Life threatening': Tahoe braces for massive blizzard, 'Lady in the fridge' murder victim ID'd as Bay Area mother of 3, Snow shuts down over 70 miles of I-80 in Northern California, Horoscope for Wednesday, 3/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, These East Bay gems are a haven for music lovers. 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. }, First published on August 23, 1999 / 2:55 PM. 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. The bill, which must still be approved by the full Senate and the governor, would provide state inspection and oversight of permanent amusement parks. People flock to these theme parks because they want to experience something extreme, but also something safe. I was one ride over at the grizzly when that happened. Greg Sanders, ride maintenance manager for the park, said the harness is electronically operated and can be lifted only after the ride has stopped at the bottom. While changes could protect the lives of other kids, its too late for Tyre,his father said. 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. The girl was crushed between her mother and the steering wheel in the accident. Officials at the park, which is located about 20 miles north of Richmond, released few details about the incident. He is seeking $15 million in punitive damages, funeral expenses and attorney fees. A 523 error means that Cloudflare could not reach your host web server. However, once Joshua was fastened into the ride, things started to go bad. If you've got a fear of rollercoasters, this won't help Every summer millions of children, teenagers, and parents head to their local amusement park seeking a fun-filled day of thrills. 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. 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). 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. Witness Tammy Matczak described seeing the two bodies fly into the air. "I cannot comment directly on it," Chanaud said. The two women who were riding the raft with Caleb (Hannah Barnes and Matraca Baetz) have been speaking out in the media about possible negligence by the workers at Schlitterbahn. Two of the unsupervised youths were not Great America employees and had less that one- half day's experience with the ride equipment, the lawsuit alleges. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The drop was over 60ft. Joshua Smurphat fell from the Drop Zone ride at Paramount's Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara, Calif., at 3:20 p.m. Sunday, park spokesman Timothy Chanaud said. display: block; However, other accounts online claim that two boys jumped out of the log ride, but only Michael Dorsey was killed. 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. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. Performance & security by Cloudflare. On July 10, 2003 at Six Flags New Orleans, a 52-year-old grandmother named Rosa Donaldson was helping her 4-year-old grandson into the Joker's Jukebox ride when she was hit in the head by a moving car on the ride and then struck again by another. More than 10 years ago, there was a problem on another Intamin ride. 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. How could this happen?' Please contact your hosting provider to confirm your origin IP and then make sure the correct IP is listed for your A record in your Cloudflare DNS Settings page. 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. Chanaud emphasized that safety is the park's first concern. 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. "The woman slammed into a beam [and] the child just flew," she explains. The ride, which opened December 2021, is billed as the worlds tallest freestanding drop tower, standing at 430 feet and can accommodate 30 riders at full capacity. Christopher fell onto another track on the ride and was fatally struck by more than one car. The familys attorneys also said ride operators were not vigilant in securing Mason-Larezs seat belt and lap bar. 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. According to witnesses, Smurphat's restraint popped open mid-ride, sending him plunging to his death. Mary Lambert Same Love: When I was in the 3rd grade I thought that I was gay 'cause I could draw My uncle was and I kept my room straight I told my mom, tears rushing down my face, she's like 'Ben you've loved girls since Joshua Lee Smurphat Born 26 Jul 1987 in Santa Clara, California Ancestors Son of Terry Lee Smurphat and [private mother (1960s - unknown)] [sibling (s) unknown] [spouse (s) unknown] [children unknown] Died 22 Aug 1999 at age 12 in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, California, USA Profile manager: Cheryl Richardson [ send private message ] But they asserted that Drop Zone operators said it was snapped shut both at the beginning and at the end of the ride. The ride reopened on August 1, 2014. Timothy Binning survived the electrical shock and recovered. 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. Kukich also added that her daughter had woken from her nap at about 10:30pm and would not remain with the babysitter. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Joshua Smurphat of Sunnyvale somehow slipped out of his Drop Zone car while 50 to 100 feet above the ground Sunday afternoon. Creative writer with a love for the strange and unfamiliar. Sometimes people are injured because they simply don't follow the rules: Do not stand up. 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). 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.. Sergeant James Hackemer was 29-years-old when he died on the Ride of Steel at Darien Lake Theme Park in Syracuse, New York. Failure Analysis is the only organization other than the park itself that regularly checks the rides -- but that may change under legislation passed by a state Senate committee yesterday. Officials didn't have a hometown for Fan but said he lived on Long Island in New York. It wasn't immediately known how far he fell. The loss of Tyre was a tragic accident that we take very seriously." Failure Analysis Associates, an inspection firm under contract by Great America, also is looking into the accident. The girl sitting next to Ryan claims that she held onto the lap bar as to not fall out herself and pulled it back down before the ride ended. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. On July 28, 2014 one of the cables snapped and struck a mother and her daughter. "Maybe cause its a color issue, thats why the thing is getting dragged around so slowly. "I personally feel like that is something that every free-fall ride should have. Both equipment malfunctions remain unexplained by park officials. The boy who was riding in the front car was thrown from the ride upon impact and reportedly hit a steel support beam and fell below the tracks. "I personally feel like that is something that every free-fall ride should have. Also located in Cedar Point is the ride Skyhawk. Jay Lingenfelter, a family friend who was seated next to Joshua, said the safety harness was not checked before the ride began and he heard a sound like when the harness snaps open just before the boy fell. AP Photo/family photo. 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. Kernacs blamed rider error, saying Smurphat should have been better supervised. But when I wake up, I know it's not a dream. That would have prevented my brothers death," she said. 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. "But we have to look at all the parameters and explore all the avenues -- maintenance records and employee experience. 12-year-old Joshua Smurphat of Sunnyvale died when he fell off Paramount's Great America Drop Zone Stunt Tower in Santa Clara. "Frankly, it takes you back. Guyton had apparently wandered into the restricted zone accidentally. Apparently (and obviously), the fault lies with the operator. I think about it all day. "My son, Daniel, has been skittish about going on any of the big rides today," she said, "and we have noticed on every ride they are checking and double-checking when they put you on. THE DISAPPEARANCE of 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari remains an unsolved mystery 70 days after she vanished from her home in Cornelius, North Carolina. Officials at Cedar Point obviously closed the ride and began investigating what could have gone wrong and although there were lap bars in place and all safety precautions were allegedly taken, they later found out that Patrick was too short to be riding Cedar Creek Mine Ride altogether. They also want ride operators to be over 18 and undergo regular drug and alcohol testing. Tamar Fellner was riding the Raven roller coaster but fell out on the first and steepest hill after she allegedly stood up in her seat during the 69-foot drop. 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. The boy dropped over 30-feet to the ground and fractured his skull. A young man died, but it was a Hispanic man. "I wanted to run in and catch him and I couldn't. The final amount received remained confidential, though it was reported that the settlement was in the millions. Joshua Smurphat was from Sunnyvale, CA, and died on a Sunday. Report Tami Smurphat with a photo of son Joshua, who died on a free-fall amusement park ride. "But what we're saying is that our investigation and the police investigation were not able to determine an exact cause.". The boy, who suffered from mental and physical disabilities, was killed when he hit the ground. Please contact your hosting provider to confirm your origin IP and then make sure the correct IP is listed for your A record in your Cloudflare DNS Settings page. Kimi Yoshino is the former manager editor of the Los Angeles Times. How can Britain justify ploughing on with HS2 while up to our neck in debt? "Maybe cause it's a color issue, that's why the. Rules and regulations of Hi-Speed Race Karts states that all riders must be at least 5-feet tall, all riders must sign a release, and only one rider be allowed in a co-kart at a time. "A secondary safety system will hopefully prevent a death. Clara. Our rides are safe when people are responsible and follow the instructions, Intamin President Sandor Kernacs said, adding that millions of people ride his and similar attractions each year without injury. It was August 1999 when OLeary lost her little brother. Kernacs said the ride is equipped with a third restraint--a grab bar--and Mason-Larez would have been safe if she had been holding on. He was air-lifted to a children's hospital in Cleveland where he entered ICU. Although the pond was roped off, there were no signs that the water itself was dangerous. 2000-02-10 04:00:00 PDT SOUTH BAY -- The mother of Joshua Smurphat, the 12-year-old Sunnyvale boy who fell to his death last summer at Paramount's Great America, has filed a lawsuit accusing the. 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? Trending News Kyle Foss was one of the passengers who was ejected from the train and landed fatally on the rocks below. Both of the women died from extensive blunt-trauma injuries. 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. He and others said park management told them not to talk to the press. The mother was taken to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. 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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. 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. On July 20, 2012 a woman returned from the Dominator roller coaster at Kings Dominion unconscious. After the car hit a sharp turn, the mother and daughter were thrown violently out of the ride while witnesses watched in horror. Unfortunately, on August 23, 1999, a 12-year-old boy from Sunnyvale, California, named Joshua Smurphat slipped out of the ride's safety harness and fell 207 feet. It is a pneumatically powered pendulum ride technically classified as a "Screamin' Swing." 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. "When the vehicle is in motion, there is no way to unlock it," he said. A 523 error means that Cloudflare could not reach your host web server. 2 girls age 19(Adrianna)& 3 (Aisla)& A boy age 5 (Tommy) Somehow, the boy slipped out of his harness, park officials said. At approximately 3:20 p.m. Joshua Smurphat, 12, of Sunnyvale, mysteriously fell out of his seat after the four-passenger car began its decent down the 200-foot plus tower. "Its business as usual for them. The three Intamin accidents occurred on different types of rides at different amusement parks and involved different restraints. Let's look at his life from a biblical perspective. } 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. Perilous Plunge does not have any posted weight restrictions. He died instantly upon hitting the concrete below. We encourage you to research and examine . 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