Girl's feet severed on ride at Six Flags in Kentucky

**imported_juggernaut28** · June 22nd, 2007, 06:28 AM

(CNN)--A girl's feet were cut off Thursday when a free-fall thrill ride malfunctioned at the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Amusement Park in Lousiville, KY, police said.

A cord wrapped around the 16 year old's feet and severed them at her ankles while she was on the "Superman Tower of Power," a police dispatcher said. The girl was taken to a local hospital.

An unidentified witness told CNN affiliate WLKY she saw a cable on the ride snap.

"The people on the ride just came and hit the ground," she said "When I got up there, the lady was just sitting there, and she didn't have no legs--she was just there, calm, probably in shock from everything."

"That could have been all of us--riding that ride," witness Whitney Sanford told CNN affiliate WDRB/WMYO.

The incident took place shortly before 5p.m.ET, according to Six Flags spokeswoman Wendy Goldberg. The park remained open, but the ride in question was shut down, and will remain so until the full investigation is complete, Goldberg said.

During the ride, passengers are lifted to 177 feet, suspended momentarily and then dropped, according to the park's Web site.

Passengers drop 154 feet at 54mph, stopping "just 20 terrifying feet above the pavement," it adds.

"I seen the car go up. Then, like, the cable broke, I heard--pwchh--and I heard alot of people screaming," Chris Stinnett, who was at a ride next to the Superman Tower of Power, told WDRB/WMYO.

"The cable went under the car--and I seen it pull up and hit alot of people--and I seen them bring their legs up," Stinnett said.

The ride was introduced in 1995.

**MikMo** · June 22nd, 2007, 08:30 AM

Looks like Six Flags is gonna be chucking out a rather large settlement over that one.

**imported_trumpet1988** · June 22nd, 2007, 11:00 AM

SOmeone told me that the Timber Tower got stuck at the top and they couldn't fix it so they had to call the fire department to get those people down. The same person told me Dollywood gave those people on that ride a lifetime pass to the park as an apology.

Last year at King's Island about a month after I was over there the Son of the Beast had like a bump in the track and where it was so wild, a bunch of people had to go to the hospital. Since then the ride has been closed and they took the loop and the big curve out of it and that they're using new trains.

They need to inspect the rides more often and have a few test runs at certain times each day to make sure it's safe. It may make the lines longer but I'd rather have a long line as a result of them making sure the ride's safe.

**BlueWahooChambordDevil** · June 22nd, 2007, 11:41 AM

first off that sucks for her and sucks even worse for six flags who has already been beat up financially ove the last few years

but a few things ive noticed about this story that dont add up....
A cord wrapped around the 16 year old's feet and severed them at her ankles while she was on the "Superman Tower of Power," a police dispatcher said. The girl was taken to a local hospital.
ive also heard she was 13

"The people on the ride just came and hit the ground," she said "When I got up there, the lady was just sitting there, and she didn't have no legs--she was just there, calm, probably in shock from everything."
so did she have no feet or no legs?? big difference

**imported_juggernaut28** · June 22nd, 2007, 01:25 PM

I have heard the different stories also, according to CNN. I really hate these rides that are put out there for entertainment. Just looking at some, one would have to have no fear to ride them.

This young girl's life will be totally changed now. It is a sad situation.

**imported_elp6n** · June 22nd, 2007, 01:28 PM

The reason for the varying reports in age is because the initial info is coming second hand, from bystanders, staff, etc. The hospital and family are not releasing any details at this moment, and those would be the sources with the most accurate info.

**BlueWahooChambordDevil** · June 22nd, 2007, 01:28 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: juggernaut28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I have heard the different stories also, according to CNN. I really hate these rides that are put out there for entertainment. Just looking at some, one would have to have no fear to ride them.

This young girl's life will be totally changed now. It is a sad situation. </div></div>
i worked at six flags when i was 16 and 17 and i can tell you that things like this are literally a one in a million occurance

more people are hurt walking their dogs every year than they are on amusement park rides