Six Flags, one of the biggest networks of theme parks with branches across the world, is also the network of theme parks having the maximum number of establishments in the world. There are at least nineteen parks under the banner of Six Flags in North America itself. Despite its fame, however, the Six Flags Park situated at Kentucky recently came under the glare due to a grievous accident that took place there. This accident, now well known over the World Wide Web as the Six Flags accident, injured several people and grievously injured one.
This is not the first accident to have occurred at a Six Flags theme park. Several accidents have been recorded since the year 1999. Most of them happened at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Six Flags America witnessing major malfunctions as late as in 2007. The Six Flags accident mentioned above took place in Kentucky in the month of June of the same year.
The ride that resulted in this Six Flags accident is the twenty-three-storey high freefall ride called the Superman Tower of Power. The riders are lifted to that altitude and released from the top to plunge down to the minimum altitude of about twenty feet above ground level. According to the report of eyewitnesses, the cable that was lifting the ride snapped just before it reached the top.
This Six Flags accident, fortunately, did not claim any lives. However, a number of people who were on that ride were thrown off and suffered injuries of different degrees. The worst reportedly happened to a thirteen year old girl, who lost her legs when the severed cable lashed against her limbs. According to an eyewitness, the victim appeared numbed by the shock.
The blame for this Six Flags accident has been pointed at Six Flags itself. However, a number of accidents can occur due to the carelessness of passengers on board rides as well. For example, another accident that occurred in the month of August in the same year was possibly due to the fact that the victim was standing while the ride still moving. This is absolutely not advisable, since it is mandatory for passengers to remain seated. The ride with which this accident occurred was the Octopus.
Another Six Flags accident has occurred in this year, this time with the ride called Two Face: The Flip Side. Passengers were showered with hydraulic fluid, necessitating hospitalization for some of them. Numerous other incidents have also occurred in these theme parks lately. The accident at Kentucky has resulted in a shutdown of the theme park. Freefall rides have been inspected for safety breaches at theme parks in other locations to prevent such mishaps in the future.
Incidents at Six Flags
