Buzz
Although the extensive safety restraints on roller coasters and extreme thrill rides may give an impression of security, these attractions are not as harmless as they appear. Even rigorous safety inspections and maintenance cannot eliminate the risk of sudden malfunctions. Over the years, certain rides have gained notoriety for causing severe injuries or fatalities. This list highlights those rides and the tragic incidents that underscore their peril.
10. Derby Racer, Revere Beach, Massachusetts
The Derby Racer has a troubled past, starting from its opening in 1910. During a speech on amusement park safety by the owner of the Revere Beach theme park, he tragically fell from one of the coaster’s cars and died instantly. In 1917, another fatal accident occurred when a passenger attempted to retrieve his lost hat on the coaster’s incline, fell onto the opposite track, was struck by another car, and dragged 35 feet. The Boston Daily Globe reported that the man suffered fatal injuries, breaking every bone in his body, and later died in the hospital.
Although the coaster was eventually demolished in 1919, it claimed another life before its removal; a third rider was ejected from the train. Her family filed a Supreme Court lawsuit in 1936 against Ocean View Amusements, the operator of the ride. After its demolition, a new coaster with the same name was built, but the ride’s dark reputation hurt its popularity, leading to its demolition a decade later.
9. Mission: Space, Disney World, Florida
Mission: Space has sparked debate due to its extreme intensity as a space-flight simulator available to the public. It utilizes a centrifuge akin to those used by NASA trainees, spinning riders at 2.5Gs—double the force of gravity—to mimic the weightlessness astronauts experience. Between 2005 and 2006, Disney employees reported over 200 injuries linked to the ride, including fainting, chest pain, and irregular heartbeats.
During that time, two fatalities occurred. The first was a five-year-old boy in 2005, who succumbed to heart failure triggered by a pre-existing condition. The second was a 49-year-old woman in 2006, who experienced nausea and dizziness—common symptoms among riders—before being hospitalized and later dying from a brain hemorrhage.
Following these incidents, Disney reevaluated the ride’s intensity and introduced two operating levels. The 'Green Team' option offers a milder experience with reduced force and fewer physical effects, while the 'Orange Team' retains the original intensity, placing the responsibility on riders to gauge their tolerance.
8. Batman: The Ride, Six Flags Over Georgia, Georgia
This coaster is not suited for those with a weak constitution, as it accelerates to 80km/h, propelling riders through intense inverted loops and turns, and features a staggering 105-foot drop. However, the ride's inverted design turned tragic in spring 2002 when a 58-year-old employee was struck in the head by a 14-year-old rider’s dangling leg, leading to his death in the hospital. The girl involved sustained only minor injuries and was treated accordingly.
The second fatality linked to the ride, and arguably the most devastating, occurred when a teenager from a youth group climbed over two fences to enter a restricted area, reportedly to retrieve his lost hat. He was struck by a high-speed car and tragically decapitated. Fortunately, no passengers on the ride were injured during the incident.
7. Rough Riders, Coney Island, New York
The Rough Riders ride gained initial attention due to its name, shared with President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous cavalry regiment. Launched in 1915, it stood out from modern coasters by featuring a ride-on driver in each car, similar to a subway train operator. Tragedy struck when the car suddenly accelerated, causing it to derail, flip, and collide with an iron railing 30 feet above the ground, hurling passengers into the air.
Three individuals died from the fall, while a mother and her 4-year-old son survived by clinging to the car’s handrail. A bystander was also killed when the driver’s body fell from above, bringing the total fatalities to four. The park was cleared of responsibility, with jurors ruling the accident as 'unavoidable.'
6. Verrückt Waterslide, Schlitterbahn, Kansas City
Living up to its name (which means 'crazy' in German), Verrückt debuted in July 2014 as the world’s tallest waterslide at 168 feet 7 inches. During initial tests, safety concerns arose as rafts were launched into the air, reaching speeds of 70km/h. Despite these issues, the slide opened to the public. Within a year, over a dozen riders reported injuries, including concussions and herniated discs, from being thrown into the netting.
The park’s manager allegedly tried to conceal these incidents, particularly a 2016 case where a man fell from the raft and suffered facial injuries. The ride’s tragic end came when Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of a state legislator, was killed on the slide. The force of the descent caused his raft to go airborne, slamming him into a metal pole in the netting and resulting in decapitation.
Investigations revealed that Caleb was allowed to sit at the front of the raft despite being lighter than the two women accompanying him. Their combined weight exceeded the ride’s capacity, straining the raft. The women survived with non-fatal injuries, including a broken jaw and facial fractures requiring stitches. Due to Caleb’s father’s political position, the case went to court, leading to the park’s temporary closure.
The director of operations was convicted of aggravated battery, aggravated child endangerment, involuntary manslaughter, and obstruction of justice. Evidence showed that despite repeated warnings about the ride’s dangers, it continued operating. While the park’s operators were acquitted due to inadmissible evidence, the ride was permanently closed in 2018.
5. Fujin Raijin II, Expoland, Suita, Japan
Tragedy occurred on May 5th, 2007, coinciding with Japan’s Children’s Day celebration. The standing coaster, a favorite at Expoland for 15 years, reached speeds of 75km/h. Near the ride’s end, a wheel axle snapped, causing the car to veer sharply. A woman struck her head on the guardrail and died, while the coaster dragged her body for 300 meters before stopping. Eighteen others suffered non-fatal injuries.
Investigations revealed the broken axle had not been inspected or repaired in 15 years. Three employees were convicted of professional negligence and falsifying maintenance records, claiming regular checks were performed. They argued the park lacked space for repairs, but the public rejected this defense. Ticket sales dropped, and the park, unable to recover its reputation, closed in 2009.
4. Big Dipper, Battersea Park, London, England
The Big Dipper, constructed in 1951, is infamous for some of the worst roller coaster accidents in history. Issues began immediately, with a derailed empty cart knocking over a railing and stranding passengers in 1951. Later, a woman suffered a broken arm in another incident. The most severe accident occurred in 1972 when a cart detached from its chain on a 15-meter incline, endangering 31 passengers.
The cart accelerated down the slope, but upon hitting a turn, it derailed and fell from the tracks. This tragic event claimed five lives: two teenage boys and an eight-year-old girl died instantly, while two other children succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. The park’s manager faced manslaughter charges, with prosecutors labeling the ride a 'death trap.' However, he was acquitted on all charges. Shortly after, the Big Dipper was dismantled, and the park closed permanently in 1974, unable to recover from the disaster’s tarnished reputation.
3. Puff the Little Fire Dragon, Lagoon, Utah
This incident demonstrates that even mild rides can be deadly. Puff the Little Fire Dragon, a small children’s coaster at Lagoon in Utah, features only gentle bumps along its track. In 1989, tragedy struck when six-year-old Ryan Beckstead mistakenly unbuckled his seatbelt after the first lap, believing the ride had ended. He fell from the car and became trapped under the tracks. As the ride completed another lap, the car struck his head, resulting in his death.
Ryan’s father, watching helplessly from the sidelines, could do nothing to save his son. Investigators found no grounds for criminal charges against the ride operator or Lagoon Corp. The ride operator had attempted to activate the brakes, but the ride’s gravity-driven design prevented it from stopping in time. Police stated, 'We found no criminal negligence on the part of either Lagoon or the operator.' This marked the first and only fatality on such a coaster, prompting the park to implement additional safety measures. It serves as a grim reminder that accidents can happen under unforeseen circumstances.
2. Mindbender, Fantasyland, Edmonton, Alberta
This is the sole indoor coaster on the list, renowned as the world’s largest high-speed triple-loop coaster. Ironically, it was once marketed as the 'world’s safest coaster,' but disaster struck in 1986, just one day after a safety inspection cleared it. The final car’s wheels reportedly malfunctioned, causing it to sway after a loop. Spectators watched in horror as the car derailed and collided with a concrete pillar, coinciding with a concert happening directly below.
The crash claimed three lives—one male and two females—and left another critically injured. Nineteen others suffered minor injuries and shock. Investigations revealed that four bolts on a rear wheel had loosened, causing the accident. Over six months, the coaster underwent extensive testing and upgrades, including the addition of seatbelts, headrests, and anti-rollback mechanisms, as well as a reduction in the number of cars. It reopened the following year and has operated safely ever since.
1. Cyclone, Coney Island, New York
The Cyclone is one of the few coasters with a tragic history that remains operational today. An iconic symbol of Coney Island, it was designated a New York landmark in 1988. Since its debut in 1927, the first fatality occurred in 1985 when a 29-year-old man stood up during the ride, striking his head on a support beam and dying instantly. The following year, a maintenance worker, ignoring warnings, rode without fastening his restraint and stood up on the incline, falling to his death on a support beam.
No further incidents occurred until 2007, when a 53-year-old man suffered a cracked vertebra from the ride’s intense forces. He later died from surgical complications. Despite these tragedies, investigations have consistently confirmed the coaster’s safety, and it remains a defining emblem of Coney Island.
