KS - Caleb Schwab, 10, dies on 17-story Schlitterbahn waterpark slide, Aug 2016

[Deeya]

Update:

Family of the women who were in the same raft with Caleb spoke to reporters. They met with an attorney to discuss their case.

http://www.fox4now.com/news/national/family-of-others-on-fatal-water-slide-ride-speak-to-reporters

 

[Madeleine74]

It all depends on the state, the installation (perm or traveling) of the ride, who owns the ride, and the laws governing that jurisdiction as to whether what happened is a criminal act or not.

I really don't think anyone needs to worry that another child will ever go on this same water ride--it will very likely be shut down altogether or changed into some other kind of ride (a safer ride). And all of that will take a few years as the civil lawsuits work their way through the system. In the meantime this ride will very likely stay closed because of there being a death. I mean on top of all that, can you really imagine any loving parent allowing their kid to ride this, knowing what happened? I highly doubt you'd see many younger kids being allowed to get near the thing.

If you're truly worried, then look at other parks and other rides that are not closed down, join together with other parents, and advocate for safe and properly inspected & regulated rides. Don't leave it up to the government, take action. This ride, however, is done, at least for a significant period of time.

 

[Doghairrules]

And as Ken Martin, safety consultant stated "it's nothing more than a roller coaster with water". Yet roller coaster cars are connected / fastened to the rails, so they can't go airborne. Just think about it, IMO its appalling that this ride was ever built.

And I am more and more appalled that this ride was reported on my numerous msm (USA Today and GMA, for instance) and not one of them expressed concerns about its safety.


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[Wyle_E_Coyote]

It all depends on the state, the installation (perm or traveling) of the ride, who owns the ride, and the laws governing that jurisdiction as to whether what happened is a criminal act or not.

I really don't think anyone needs to worry that another child will ever go on this same water ride--it will very likely be shut down altogether or changed into some other kind of ride (a safer ride). And all of that will take a few years as the civil lawsuits work their way through the system. In the meantime this ride will very likely stay closed because of there being a death. I mean on top of all that, can you really imagine any loving parent allowing their kid to ride this, knowing what happened? I highly doubt you'd see many younger kids being allowed to get near the thing.

If you're truly worried, then look at other parks and other rides that are not closed down, join together with other parents, and advocate for safe and properly inspected & regulated rides. Don't leave it up to the government, take action. This ride, however, is done, at least for a significant period of time.

I'm worried about the other rides these idiots designed. Shorter, smaller rides can also be deadly. Especially when designed by people who have no business designing them.

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[fred&edna]

Another amusement park injury

http://www.wtae.com/news/child-falls-off-idlewild-roller-coaster/41153660

 

[AmyPond]

In almost every article I read there is another person complaining about problems with the straps, like this:

...Craig said that during her first trip down the ride with her son and one of his friends, her shoulder restraint came off, something she opted not to report to park workers. "I didn't think much about it," she said...So they rode it again, only to see the restraint on her son's friend also come loose by the time it was over....the ride's operators sent them down the slide even though their combined weight was 393 pounds — shy of the 400 weight minimum the park advertises as a requirement. Craig described the ride as "very, very rough," so much so that "when I got off, my head hurt.

To sum it up - this woman went down this ride, noticed a loose restraint and then IMO made two terrible errors in judgment: not reporting it and deciding to ride again. On the second trip, another person's strap came loose. She also knowingly went on the ride when her party weighed in at 393lbs and the weight minimum is 400lbs.

Source article:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/so...terslide-at-kansas-park/ar-BBvsrZ7?li=BBnbcA1

People typically have the mentality that "if it were unsafe, it wouldn't exist." I know I've felt that way about rides before. I mean, I know that there's always a chance of malfunction and whatnot on any ride. But I just assume that the rides I go on were designed by people who know what they are doing. That clearly wasn't the case with this ride, however.

People often complain about OSHA stepping in and making parks like Disneyland change things for safety. But I, for one, am thankful for it.

 

[AmyPond]

I do wonder about dropping the age requirement. I feel like they tested the boats with various overall weights. But did they test the boats with less weight in front? Less weight in back? Etc.? Because by dropping the age requirement, they made it more likely that instead of 3 people of possibly similar (adult) weight....you're going to have 1 light person with 2 heavier people. So one part of the boat holds significantly less weight than the rest. Did they do tests for this scenario? Based on what I've seen of the people who designed this...I doubt it.

I strongly feel like these non-engineer designs are at fault. And really anyone who okay-ed this ride.

 

[al66pine]

Ppl asked what crim chg might be brought against Park Owner or Mgmt. Maybe KS crim offense of Endangerment.
Article 54. - CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS *
21-5429. Endangerment.
(a). Endangerment is recklessly exposing another person to a danger of great bodily harm or death.
(b) Endangerment is a class A person misdemeanor.
(c) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas criminal code.

IDK, I'm trying to imagine how it would go.

On the surface, prosecution seems relatively straight forward: Unsafe water slide caused rider Caleb's death.

Park Owner/Mgmt's Def team would argue: it was not an unsafe ride, so in operating it and letting ppl ride, we were not reckless.

– ‘In letting ppl ride the Verruckt, we did not recklessly expose them to danger of GBH or death. Nobody had been seriously hurt or died before. After 2014 pre-opening tests where rafts took flight, we modified/redesigned the slide, added safety hoops & nets, & velcro straps, etc, then no more flying rafts.When we learned about the poss danger of GBH or Death, we corrected to make it safe before we let the public ride. In 2 ½ seasons, 3 summers, X00,000 rides have been completed w no GBH or deaths. We did not endanger Caleb.”

This ^ could be their argument, azz-uming there have been no reported GBH or deaths on ride. Likely we would have read or heard about them. Likely ppl have suffered scraped knees & elbows, IDK.

Another argument they could make about the raggedy straps is –
‘Yes, other riders this summer advised us about velcro straps coming undone, but even w them unattached, no rider suffered GBH or death. And after we were told, of course, we checked all rafts and replaced them on 1 (2, 5, all?) rafts. But that actually shows we have redundant safety measures, because even w those partially attached or unattached straps, no rider was hurt. The ride was still safe.’

In short, it was a safe ride until it was not (when Caleb died). Doubtful this KS crim charge would hold imo but as always, could be all wrong. Maybe another KS crim offense would be an approp. chg to bring against owners/mgmt. Welcome other opinions of analysis.

In other amusement ride cases
ppl have referred or linked to, the owners/mgmt had actual knowledge of prior Great Bodily Harm or Death occurring on their ridesand AFAIK, failed to take steps to correct/repair the ride. Later when riders were injured, owners/mgmt had been reckless by their failure to fix a known danger/unsafe feature. So there was criminal and civil liability. JM2cts.


RIP Caleb. Thoughts & prayers to his family, friends, & community, and to the women injured.

 

[AmyPond]

If they knew about the straps coming loose and did nothing....that is something they should be held accountable for....at the VERY least.

 

[Everyday Grace]

I'm worried about the other rides these idiots designed. Shorter, smaller rides can also be deadly. Especially when designed by people who have no business designing them.

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Yah, I have my doubts about this one.

Massiv: "Worlds tallest" "water coaster." Opened June 2016 at Schlitterbahn Galveston.

Not a "coaster" in the sense of guidance by and attachment to a rail. One or two person tube-rafts.

http://www.schlitterbahn.com/home/galveston-island/massiv-announcement

No velcro issue, though, regarding restraints.

There are no restraints.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jDX_hlXN4kY

 

[Everyday Grace]

21-5429. Endangerment.

Class A misdemeanor

Punishable in Kansas by up to a year in county jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/kansas-misdemeanor-crimes-class-and-sentences.htm

Might as well send them to bed early with a goodnight kiss and a teddy bear.

 

[Tssiemer]

I just don't think a water slide should have to have restraints.

I'd ride it.

Sorry tapatalk hasn't been quoting right. It was in response to Everyday Grace's video.

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[al66pine]

If they knew about the straps coming loose and did nothing....that is something they should be held accountable for....at the VERY least.

Agreeing w you, I think if owners/mgmt were advised about straps & did not inspect/replace, etc, then should be held accountable.

In my ^post, I azz-umed for sake of discussion, that after owners/mgmt were advised of strap problems & they did inspect/replace/repair them. Admittedly, it is an azz-umption, the kind my mother warned about.

Not nominating Park Owners or Mgmt for Citizen of the Year Award. Just saying doubtful, imo w the info I now have, that criminal liability will attach, not for Crim Endangerment. Maybe crim liability on a different negligence-based chg will be brought. After all there are bound to be some reported lesser/minor injuries on ride, enough to raise doubts, IDK. In civil court, I imagine there will be approp. $ settlements for Caleb's fam & the other two riders.


Also if link to KS Endangerment statute in my ^ post does not work:
http://kslegislature.org/li_2012/b2011_12/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_054_0000_article/021_054_0029_section/021_054_0029_k/

 

[kimi_SFC]

Another accident has occurred, this time in PA:

Child falls from roller coaster at Idlewild Park, flown to hospital | TribLIVE Mobile
http://triblive.com/mobile/10949512-96/child-park-coaster

PA - Child falls off Idlewild Park roller coaster
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...d-Park-roller-coaster&p=12743175#post12743175


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[Doghairrules]

I'm worried about the other rides these idiots designed. Shorter, smaller rides can also be deadly. Especially when designed by people who have no business designing them.

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And it seems like there are always people who don't know what happened, especially as time goes on. They should have to post that someone died if they ever reopen it.


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[Tssiemer]

Another accident has occurred, this time in PA:

Child falls from roller coaster at Idlewild Park, flown to hospital | TribLIVE Mobile
http://triblive.com/mobile/10949512-96/child-park-coaster

PA - Child falls off Idlewild Park roller coaster
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...d-Park-roller-coaster&p=12743175#post12743175


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Oh my gosh!!! Glad I can't ride roller coasters anymore!! (Back issues)


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[1&2&3]

Something I have not seen mentioned. What was the combined weight of the two women on the raft with Caleb???????

Were these heavy set women, average size, or petite women? This is a huge factor in how the raft was balanced and performed.

 

[AmyPond]

And it seems like there are always people who don't know what happened, especially as time goes on. They should have to post that someone died if they ever reopen it.


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I am sure there are a lot of rides in theme parks where deaths have occurred that guests have no idea about. I mean, it's easy to find lists if you look online. But many don't. And often I think people assume all is well, especially with "kiddie" rides. But that isn't always the case. (Example - Roger Rabbit ride at Disneyland.)

 

[KaaBoom]

Something I have not seen mentioned. What was the combined weight of the two women on the raft with Caleb???????

Were these heavy set women, average size, or petite women? This is a huge factor in how the raft was balanced and performed.

I don’t think that information has been released. But some are claiming that the riders were obviously well below the required weight.

 

[1&2&3]

This is just my opinion. If i read correctly Upthread, Kansas has a cap on the amount of liability a company is responsible for. For some reason, $300,000 sticks in my mind.

This amount is a slap in the face when a life has been lost! For that matter, in today's society, this amount is peanuts for any damage people suffered from being injured physically or mentally from this horrific water slide incident.

While money does not compensate for a life, a company acknowledging the reasons for building this dangerous ride in Kansas was due to their slack laws on liability and building requirements (similar words), needs a stiff punishment! As US citizens, how do we stop repetitive abuses such as this?

My hope is that Caleb's parents will shut this ride down and stop further duplications of it as part of their settlement. We all know there will be major law suits. If it is true that their compensation is limited, let each party go after the owners and developers for allowing dangerous rides / attractions in their parks.