Visiting a Six Flags amusement park can be a great way to spend the day with your friends or family. Most modern amusement parks have plenty of attractions and rides to satisfy the preferences of just about any visitor. Whether you enjoy roller coasters or more slow-paced rides, there are likely enough activities to keep you and your companions occupied for the day.
When you visit an amusement park, it’s important to always follow any written signs and verbal commands of park employees. While amusement parks are generally safe for visitors, disobeying a park’s rules can put someone at risk of serious injury or death. In this article, we discuss some of the most notorious accidents to occur at a Six Flags amusement or water park. We drew primarily upon research compiled by the Doan Law Firm for the creation of this content.
The Haunted Castle Fire
On May 11th, 1984, the Haunted Castle attraction at Six Flags Great Adventure caught fire and quickly burned to the ground with nearly thirty people inside. Although many of the people in the attraction were able to make their way to safety, eight teenagers became disoriented in the dark, smoke-filled building and succumbed to smoke inhalation. The tragic loss of life may have been worsened by the building’s design and fireproofing systems (or lack thereof).
The Haunted Castle consisted of a series of commercial truck trailers, connected by wood framing and plywood. Some walls were padded with polyurethane foam to prevent guests from harming themselves by walking into walls in the dimly-lit attraction. One trailer was used as a control room, with electrical panels for the attraction’s sound and light systems and a pair of fire extinguishers. It is important to note that the Haunted Castle did not have fire sprinklers or functioning smoke detectors when the deadly blaze broke out.
The fire likely began when a teenage visitor used a cigarette lighter to guide his way through the attraction after a lightbulb burned out. The teenager bumped into one of the foam panels, igniting a blaze that he was unable to put out. Within mere minutes, the entire attraction was engulfed in flames. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the park in the aftermath of the tragic event, alleging that the attraction’s lack of fireproofing was negligent. Six Flags was found “not guilty” in a jury verdict, since they technically adhered to all laws regarding the safety of the attraction.
The Skyway Accident
On July 26th, 1978, a cable car on the Skyway attraction plummeted approximately seventy-five feet to the ground, causing instantaneous fatal injuries to three of the four occupants. Two young girls and their uncle perished in the fall, with another young girl suffering serious injuries. Park officials shut down the ride immediately, leaving dozens of riders stranded across a further sixteen cable cars. Firefighters from a dozen departments arrived to rescue the stranded park visitors, using a cherry-picker to reach people trapped in the highest cars.
The cable car fell when it reached the attraction’s first large support tower. A steel support beam abruptly shifted out of place, causing the car to slip off the cable entirely. Fortunately, the cable itself did not appear to suffer damage, which potentially prevented additional casualties from occurring. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the park’s public relations manager stated that all rides and attractions were checked daily for safety problems. No issues had been reported with the Skyway on the day of the accident.
In the days following the terrible loss of life, a $4.5 million lawsuit was filed on behalf of the surviving rider. The lawsuit alleges that the ride was in “a dangerously defective condition.” An investigation carried out after the fatal fall revealed that the failure of bushings in the support beam caused the deadly series of events.
Drownings at La Ronde
On July 8th, 1979, a sightseeing boat capsized in the man-made Lac des Dauphins. Witnesses noted that the tour boat was returning from an excursion on the lake when it began to list heavily to the right (starboard) side. Passengers panicked and rushed to the left (port) side of the boat, causing the vessel to lose equilibrium and lurch violently from side-to-side. The boat eventually capsized less than six meters from the docking area.
Between fifty and sixty park visitors were thrown into the water, and three drowned as a result of the incident. Many of the sightseers were evidently unable to swim and it seems that few of the boat’s passengers were wearing life vests. The situation could have been worse if not for the quick actions of several onlookers. Members of the Dolphin Lake Aquatic Team had been nearby, preparing to do a water-skiing show. They leapt into action, rescuing several floundering tourists. Another five victims were rescued by university student Epaminondas Rekatsinas, who happened to be passing the lake at the time.
Banzai Pipeline Collapse
A group of high school students suffered injuries when a section of the Banzai Pipeline slide collapsed on June 2nd, 1997. According to eyewitness testimony, a large group of teenagers rushed the slide at once, attempting to set a school record for the most people on the slide at one time. Lifeguards attempted to prevent the group from getting onto the slide, but were unable to stop the rush.
As the group of students rode the side, a section of the piping gave way, possibly due to excessive weight. Dozens of teenagers spilled out of the broken section of sliding, falling approximately thirty feet to the ground below. Victims struck elements of the ride or wooden support poles on the way down, before landing on a strip of cement, flowers, bushes, and dirt below the ride.
Park employees and onlookers rushed to perform first-aid for victims, moving from person to person and providing care with available resources. Despite the best efforts of first responders and hospital staff, one young woman succumbed to chest and head injuries sustained in the fall.
Batman: The Ride
Two men broke Six Flags rules when they jumped over a pair of security fences at Six Flags Over Georgia on June 28th, 2008. The fences were meant to prevent visitors and employees from accessing the dangerous area directly below the Batman: The Ride roller coaster. Unfortunately, one of the men was struck and decapitated by the ride’s train.
Eyewitness accounts differ as to why the two men attempted to get below the roller coaster in the first place. Some witnesses suggested that the victim was attempting to retrieve a lost hat. Others indicate that the two men had exited the park for lunch and were trying to take a shortcut to get back in, instead of going through the regular entrance a second time. This was the second death to have been caused by this particular ride, with a 58-year-old groundskeeper being killed in 2002.
Enjoying a Safe Trip to Six Flags
Anytime you visit an amusement park, be sure to obey any posted signs or verbal commands of park employees. While amusement parks should always be safe for visitors and employees alike, staying alert for any potential hazards can protect you and your loved ones. We hope that your next trip to a Six Flags park goes smoothly!