McDonalds ist schuld...
Moin
Intamin hat ganz lapidar mit der Ursache für den Perilous Plunge Todesfall herausgerückt. Jedenfalls haben wir es anscheinend der amerikanischen Esskultur zu verdanken, dass wir vor einer Trockenrutsche in Knotts Berry Farm standen. Hier der Artikel:
The manufacturer of the Perilous Plunge says the woman who died was too big for the ride's safety restraint.
October 23, 2001
By DANIELLE HERUBIN,
NANCY LUNA
and TONY SAAVEDRA
The Orange County Register
The woman mysteriously ejected from the Perilous Plunge ride at Knott's Berry Farm on Sept. 21 had a 58-inch abdomen, a report released Monday by the Orange County coroner's office says.
The ride's manufacturer says she was too big for the seat belt to close properly.
Lori Mason-Larez, 40, of Duarte fell about 115 feet and died of massive injuries, according to the report.
"If a person is too big, (the restraint system) cannot close properly," said Sandor Kernacs, president of ride manufacturer Intamin AG.
"If the (seat belt) is not closed because there is an obese belly in front of it, and the seat belt can't be put around the waist and pulled tight, I don't know what to say. Basically, you build a restraint system suitable for most of the people who go to the park," Kernacs said.
Mason-Larez's daughter told state investigators that she helped her mother buckle her seat belt before the ride started, according to Jack Falfas, Knott's general manager.
Intamin said the water coaster's seat belts only extend about 50 inches around.
However, Falfas said the seat belt could extend to 65 inches.
Mason-Larez weighed 292 pounds, and her hips were about 50 inches around.
Investigators have speculated that if she placed the seat belt below her abdomen instead of on it, it might have been easier for her to slip out of the ride.
However, no one warned Mason-Larez that obese people shouldn't ride the ride, said Marc Feldman, the attorney for her family.
The state investigation will take about another month. Investigators are testing the safety-restraint system, said Richard Stephens, spokesman for the Division of Occupational Safety & Health.
The $9 million Perilous Plunge, billed as the world's tallest and steepest water coaster, with a splash that rises two stories, has been open about a year. The ride simulates going over Niagara Falls.
Falfas said Knott's is rethinking safety restraints throughout the park.
"When something happens, you've got to take a double look at everything," Falfas said.
Der vorletzte Satz beunruhigt mich etwas, denn schon jetzt hat man auf fast jeder Attraktionen einen zusätzlichen Gurt. Selbst Jaguar und die Themenfahrt mit den Dinosauriern (!!!!) wurden nicht verschont.
Gruss
Jakob
Intamin hat ganz lapidar mit der Ursache für den Perilous Plunge Todesfall herausgerückt. Jedenfalls haben wir es anscheinend der amerikanischen Esskultur zu verdanken, dass wir vor einer Trockenrutsche in Knotts Berry Farm standen. Hier der Artikel:
The manufacturer of the Perilous Plunge says the woman who died was too big for the ride's safety restraint.
October 23, 2001
By DANIELLE HERUBIN,
NANCY LUNA
and TONY SAAVEDRA
The Orange County Register
The woman mysteriously ejected from the Perilous Plunge ride at Knott's Berry Farm on Sept. 21 had a 58-inch abdomen, a report released Monday by the Orange County coroner's office says.
The ride's manufacturer says she was too big for the seat belt to close properly.
Lori Mason-Larez, 40, of Duarte fell about 115 feet and died of massive injuries, according to the report.
"If a person is too big, (the restraint system) cannot close properly," said Sandor Kernacs, president of ride manufacturer Intamin AG.
"If the (seat belt) is not closed because there is an obese belly in front of it, and the seat belt can't be put around the waist and pulled tight, I don't know what to say. Basically, you build a restraint system suitable for most of the people who go to the park," Kernacs said.
Mason-Larez's daughter told state investigators that she helped her mother buckle her seat belt before the ride started, according to Jack Falfas, Knott's general manager.
Intamin said the water coaster's seat belts only extend about 50 inches around.
However, Falfas said the seat belt could extend to 65 inches.
Mason-Larez weighed 292 pounds, and her hips were about 50 inches around.
Investigators have speculated that if she placed the seat belt below her abdomen instead of on it, it might have been easier for her to slip out of the ride.
However, no one warned Mason-Larez that obese people shouldn't ride the ride, said Marc Feldman, the attorney for her family.
The state investigation will take about another month. Investigators are testing the safety-restraint system, said Richard Stephens, spokesman for the Division of Occupational Safety & Health.
The $9 million Perilous Plunge, billed as the world's tallest and steepest water coaster, with a splash that rises two stories, has been open about a year. The ride simulates going over Niagara Falls.
Falfas said Knott's is rethinking safety restraints throughout the park.
"When something happens, you've got to take a double look at everything," Falfas said.
Der vorletzte Satz beunruhigt mich etwas, denn schon jetzt hat man auf fast jeder Attraktionen einen zusätzlichen Gurt. Selbst Jaguar und die Themenfahrt mit den Dinosauriern (!!!!) wurden nicht verschont.
Gruss
Jakob