How Much Bad Shit Can Happen To One Person?

Morcheeba

Morcheeba

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Morcheeba
So I'm sure a few of you caught wind of this tragedy over the weekend.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/09/new.york.roller.coaster/

Spoiler:

Iraq veteran amputee dies after roller-coaster fall

By Katie Silver, CNN
July 9, 2011 10:00 p.m. EDT




(CNN) -- A U.S. Army soldier who lost both legs serving in Iraq fell to his death from a roller coaster in upstate New York, police said.
James Hackemer, 29, was riding the Ride of Steel roller coaster at Darien Lake Theme Park Resort on Friday when he plummeted some 200 feet to the ground, according to Sgt. Greg Walker of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.
"They were descending from one of the hills when he became dislodged from the roller coaster and fell to the ground," Walker said.
Hackemer, who had been fitted with prosthetic legs, was not wearing them on the ride, according to senior dispatcher James Tripp of the Sheriff's Office.
Hackemer, a sergeant, had spent three years in rehabilitation after he lost both legs in an improvised explosive device blast in Iraq in 2008, according to CNN affiliate WVIB.
This was his first trip to the park since returning to his home in Gowanda, New York, in March, WVIB reported.
"However long he was on that ride, (it) had to have been the best time in the last 3 1/2 years," his sister Jody Hackemer told WVIB.
"It was the only time (that he) felt completely normal again," she said.
The park is working closely with local and state authorities to investigate the death.
"We are all brokenhearted by this tragic accident and will continue our support of both the family and the investigation," park spokesman Chris Thorpe said in a press statement.


This guy survives an IED taking both his legs which is saying something, then a coaster operator allows him on a ride that fastens passengers over the thighs .... only to be ejected to his death.

His family has gone through a lot in the past couple years.
 
I can't believe he was allowed on the coaster, I mean it sounds harsh, but I would think anyone who's ever rode a standard steel roller coaster would realize having no legs would make those lap/thigh restraints pretty much useless. unless it was one of those that locks down over the shoulders.

My heart goes out to the family, but people need to use their heads, he never should have been allowed to ride that coaster in the first place,

I'd like to know if that amusement park has a standing policy about amputees and rides. and if that policy was followed here.

I'd feel horrible for whoever was operating that ride as well, I can imagine what an ass you'd feel like telling a disabled vet they can't get on a ride because of their disability, and the operator probably thought he was doing the guy a favor, letting him on, only to have the guy fall to his death.


Horrible story all around.
 
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Yea it's certainly an all around shitty situation.

I figured if anything the operator may have felt bad for the guy (I don't believe he'd have known why he was disabled tho) and let him on. That was beyond a regrettable decision, and had it not been deadly, still a stupid and irresponsible one. He/She should have known what was required of each passenger. But this most definitely will be a lasting devastating memory. That's without saying it may end up expensive due to liability.

I feel for his family. I cannot imagine what they must be feeling now. I'm sure with news of the bomb they felt they may lose him, and to have him back and healthy, just to lose him in an avoidable accident like this... my goodness =(

Can't say what action this might cause. But if it becomes a law suit of any kind, 6 flags will be hit hard.
 
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aww :( poor guy.... how'd he become dislodged? I wonder what will be found. Don't know if we can say it was his disability that could have caused it to dislodge him from the car, coulda been a malfunction with it. Just sad either way.
 
I can only assume it's because the main restraint is a lap bar which you need your legs to really be safely restrained. Any one of us who have ever ridden a rollercoaster that reach extreme heights and speed could all agree the force lifts you right off your ass. If you don't have legs to keep from passing the bar... well, I think this is what would happen to any of us. I don't know the length of which he had (for lack of a better word) stumps, but the force could have forced him to slide right out.

This shouldn't have happened. But it has. And not only is it still under investigation, but it's being pushed in parliament that the theme park regulations should be under federal regulatory control. Which it seems may be a damn good idea.

There are some witness reports in this article...

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/st...nesses-Asking-Why/9Kl-7e0TYEWnyJeFIIZUOQ.cspx

One stated that he was holding onto the handles welded onto the lap bar but his body had come right out of the car and he was literally fighting to keep holding onto the ride... fighting to survive. Then he fell on the track and the ride hit him. Way tragic.
 
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Many roller coasters I can recall (to be fair it's been a long time) had shoulder bars over you too and upper body harnesses. At least the especially crazy ones (with many spins and loops and a lot of speed). Maybe this one didn't or it's an older one :( if so, sad....
 
Coasters in the last 13 or so year have shoulder bars, assuming they go upsidedown. Most coasters that don't go upsidedown do not though.... It's all part of the thrill. I've never once seen a rollercoaster with a harness. I've seen the bungee 'rides' they sometimes offer at theme parks with harnesses, but never a ride. Shoulder bars are pretty typical though, but again, I've only ever seen them on coasters that go upsidedown.

I'm a huge coaster rider, I've been hooked since I was 7 and if I could only stand the 1-2 hour line ups I'd be at the park every week. The Great Canadian Mindbuster is quite the ride here, oldschool WOODEN coaster that does have some pretty big heights considering how old the ride is. They still only restrain you with a lap bar. Your ass comes right out of the seat.

This mans family (so far) seems to be rather 'calm' about the whole situation. We'll see what happens going forward.
 
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Ah, well I haven't been on a roller coaster in years (let alone even been to an amusement park). I think the last time I was at one was Cedar Point on a trip and I remember many of them there (especially the ones with loops and upside down parts and corkscrews and whatnot) had ones where they were put over your shoulders and such. Though, I don't claim to be a roller coaster aficionado or whatever :P
 
A friend of mine who is ex military, served with and was friends with this guy. Such a tragedy.
 
It's just the universe trying to maintain equilibrium. You heard about the guy who won the lottery... twice?

Well, this guy is the yin to his yang.
 
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