Woman Struck By Object While on Roller Coaster
A jury awarded $3.6 million in damages in March 2006 to a Milwaukee woman who was struck by an object while on an amusement park roller coaster. The accident occurred on the Villain roller coaster at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio in July 2000.
The accident left her with a broken nose and a fractured skull. Surgeons had to cut into her skull to relieve the pressure on her swelling brain, and to remove bone fragments from her brain tissue. It is unclear what object actually struck the woman. However during the trial it was revealed that employees had told amusement park officials four times during May and June 2000 that people were throwing rocks at the riders.
Some of these rocks were found in the area directly below the roller coaster, and more on a walkway that runs along the ride to a picnic area. After this incident, park officials built a fence between the roller coaster and the walkway.
A supervisor also ordered that the rocks be removed and replaced by mulch, but it was found that the rocks were simply covered in the mulch. Two years later, a 12-year old girl was struck and cut along the forehead while riding the Villain. This prompted Six Flags to finally close down the picnic area and restrict access to the walkway.
The jury awarded the woman $1.1 million for medical damages, and $2.5 million for punitive damages. Six Flags Worlds of Adventure had originally offered a $250,000 settlement.
But if testimony is correct, it is a miracle that more people were not hurt. Throwing rocks at riders, who already hurtle along the track at 60 mph, seemed to be a regular occurrence. Park officials, as testimony showed, were slow to act and in fact did not make any drastic changes until after these two injuries.
However during the trial, park officials claimed that despite this they were not negligent because the woman knew that she was taking a risk by riding the roller coaster in the first place. Even if there is any truth to that statement, most riders probably don't expect being subjected to flying rocks as part of any normal "risk" that the amusement park is talking about.
A jury awarded $3.6 million in damages in March 2006 to a Milwaukee woman who was struck by an object while on an amusement park roller coaster. The accident occurred on the Villain roller coaster at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio in July 2000.
The accident left her with a broken nose and a fractured skull. Surgeons had to cut into her skull to relieve the pressure on her swelling brain, and to remove bone fragments from her brain tissue. It is unclear what object actually struck the woman. However during the trial it was revealed that employees had told amusement park officials four times during May and June 2000 that people were throwing rocks at the riders.
Some of these rocks were found in the area directly below the roller coaster, and more on a walkway that runs along the ride to a picnic area. After this incident, park officials built a fence between the roller coaster and the walkway.
A supervisor also ordered that the rocks be removed and replaced by mulch, but it was found that the rocks were simply covered in the mulch. Two years later, a 12-year old girl was struck and cut along the forehead while riding the Villain. This prompted Six Flags to finally close down the picnic area and restrict access to the walkway.
The jury awarded the woman $1.1 million for medical damages, and $2.5 million for punitive damages. Six Flags Worlds of Adventure had originally offered a $250,000 settlement.
But if testimony is correct, it is a miracle that more people were not hurt. Throwing rocks at riders, who already hurtle along the track at 60 mph, seemed to be a regular occurrence. Park officials, as testimony showed, were slow to act and in fact did not make any drastic changes until after these two injuries.
However during the trial, park officials claimed that despite this they were not negligent because the woman knew that she was taking a risk by riding the roller coaster in the first place. Even if there is any truth to that statement, most riders probably don't expect being subjected to flying rocks as part of any normal "risk" that the amusement park is talking about.
