symbah
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http://www.news.com.au/national/que...s/news-story/5d2bb0959e65c310ce731637f10a19a0
This is what happens when people die at theme parks
EXPOLAND was thriving for more than 30 years but changed in 2007 with a single, tragic incident.
After that it was never the same. It struggled to attract patrons, became a wasteland frequented by photographers fascinated with abandoned places and only recently showed signs of life again.
Built in 1970, the park covered 20 hectares in Osaka and became one of the most popular destinations in Japan for thrillseekers.
More than 20 years after the park opened, passengers took the first ride on the Fujin Raijin II, a six-car rollercoaster that travelled along more than a kilometre of track, twisting and turning at speeds in excess of 120km/h.
It was a huge success and operated without issue for 15 years. Then, on May 5, 2007, it derailed, tossing passengers off the track and claiming the life of a 19-year-old woman.
Yoshino Kogowara died instantly when her head struck a guardrail. Eighteen others were injured.
Expoland closed briefly as investigators pored over every inch of the track and eventually found fault in an axle that had not been replaced in 15 years.
Operators said the axle should have been checked routinely, as it was every year, but an inspection scheduled for February that year was not completed.
When the park reopened, nobody came. Less than two years later, it closed for good. The park’s fortunes were captured in a single quote from a spokesman.
He told The Japan Times: “We couldn’t regain the people’s trust”.
He said it was difficult to secure a corporate sponsor that wished to be linked to the park after the incident.
Three employees at the park were charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury and falsely claiming the park conducted regular checks on the roller coaster. They were found guilty on all charges.
BBM
This is what happens when people die at theme parks
EXPOLAND was thriving for more than 30 years but changed in 2007 with a single, tragic incident.
After that it was never the same. It struggled to attract patrons, became a wasteland frequented by photographers fascinated with abandoned places and only recently showed signs of life again.
Built in 1970, the park covered 20 hectares in Osaka and became one of the most popular destinations in Japan for thrillseekers.
More than 20 years after the park opened, passengers took the first ride on the Fujin Raijin II, a six-car rollercoaster that travelled along more than a kilometre of track, twisting and turning at speeds in excess of 120km/h.
It was a huge success and operated without issue for 15 years. Then, on May 5, 2007, it derailed, tossing passengers off the track and claiming the life of a 19-year-old woman.
Yoshino Kogowara died instantly when her head struck a guardrail. Eighteen others were injured.
Expoland closed briefly as investigators pored over every inch of the track and eventually found fault in an axle that had not been replaced in 15 years.
Operators said the axle should have been checked routinely, as it was every year, but an inspection scheduled for February that year was not completed.
When the park reopened, nobody came. Less than two years later, it closed for good. The park’s fortunes were captured in a single quote from a spokesman.
He told The Japan Times: “We couldn’t regain the people’s trust”.
He said it was difficult to secure a corporate sponsor that wished to be linked to the park after the incident.
Three employees at the park were charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury and falsely claiming the park conducted regular checks on the roller coaster. They were found guilty on all charges.
BBM
