Anyone following that Icon park accident??

[Jethro]

First and foremost....I am not trying to make lite of the accident...its awful, and sad....but...
Something doesn't seem right. They keep saying that the boy fell from the 430 foot high ride. They dont say if it was at the top or not, but they make it sound like it was. I just read where they said...."He was taken to the hospital, where he later died". Ummm, I would think falling 430' would be instant death!!??
Said he was 6'5" 340 pounds, and was 50+ pounds over weight for the ride. Also said his seat belt/restraint was still in the correct position....and locked. I dont want to jump to any conclusions...but my guess is....he was to big for it, and had it behind him.. And whats with this woman claiming to be his cousin (no relationship at all), that just left her job in....ummm adult entertainment? Looking for/expecting a payday???
I hope they get this figured out...but something just doesn't seem right.

[ImThere]

I completely agree. That’s why rides have rules. I would bet the operator didn’t want to argue with them.

[JCodd]

I’ve seen the video. The ride was closer to the bottom than it was at the top when he fell out. Basically, they take you to the top and it free falls, when it slowed to shoot back up, the kid just kept coming down. Basically, he was spiked like a football, but looked like he fell maybe closer to 50 feet than 430. But yes, he was much bigger than the ride was able to accommodate.

[Jethro]

Many years ago, I rode free fall at six flags. If not tied down, you will come out of your seat. Whats the likelihood he had his belt behind him, and was just falling with the ride....till it slowed down (as jason mentioned from the video), and just kept going? Not like he fell from higher, just was out of his seat due to not being strapped in.

[Sackett]

He was well over the weight/size limit for the ride. I saw the picture of him and it was pretty obvious (now knowing what happened) that he was to large for the ride. He may have only be 14 years old but he was A BIG boy! Terrible, terrible tragedy! It seems obvious that who ever was handling the area where they get on the ride a tragic mistake allowing him on it and also not making sure he was buckled in.
I am sure this will end in a HUGE settlement and I imagine a team of lawyers will be arguing his future profit potential as an NFL football player.

He is on the right --->

[MUP]

If that's the pic just prior to the ride beginning then it's obvious that the locking bar wasn't closed all the way. Terrible.

[JCodd]

I’m actually surprised he wasn’t internally decapitated from the shoulder strap thing. And if that’s the only harness, someone truly missed the mark on safety.

[Sackett]

That is the real pic. You can google him/the accident and see and read more.

[Shane37110]

I'm willing to bet the operator ignored the weight limit because he was afraid of being called a racist if he didn't let him ride.

[MUP]

Good point Shane, very possible in today's times.

[snakester50]

Hate it for him and his family but guys I'm not getting on something like that.

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

I watched the video and he face planted at a high rate of speed and was DRT. The sound alone confirmed he died instantly.