Amusement Park worker hit by roller coaster

A worker at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysberg, Pennsylvania was hurt when he was struck by a roller coaster during a testing for the new attraction.

Knoebels reported that the employee was part of the crew testing the new Impulse roller coaster, getting it ready for opening day next month, but a spokesperson for Knoebels says no one knew the employee was standing in that spot. Stacy Ososkie, Public Relations manager for Knoebels, stated the man was beside the track when he was hit by a passing car. Officials said the man was awake, alert and talking, when he was taken to a local hospital. The victim’s name has not been released, but it is reported that the man is recovering from a broken hand and staples in his head. Ososkie says family members report a CT scan did not show signs of more serious injuries. “The area that he was in is not accessible by visitors, so this will not affect the safety of the ride. The areas of the ride that will be accessible by visitors have a certain clearance,” said Ososkie.

Officials at Knoebels said their newest attraction, the Impulse coaster, features 2,000 feet of track, a 98-foot high lift hill, a 90-degree free fall drop, several inversions, and speeds over 55 miles per hour. Testing on Impulse has been shut down until the safety procedures can be evaluated. The incident is still under investigation to figure out how fast the new steel tower roller coaster was going when the worker was struck.

In 2003, a man was seriously injured in a 30-foot fall from the Scenic Skyway chairlift, which had opened two weeks earlier. The man was a member of Selinsgrove Center, a group home for mentally disabled people in Snyder County and was riding alone. He was airlifted to Geisinger Medical Center. The man made a full recovery, and the home was subsequently cited for failing to adequately supervise its residents. Inspectors found no problems with the ride.

Knoebels Amusement Resort is a family owned and operated amusement park, picnic grove, and campground. It is and has been America’s largest free admission park for 89 years of operation. Since opening in 1926, the park has more than 60 rides. The park and its rides have won awards from organizations such as Amusement Today, American Coaster Enthusiasts, and The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. In 2014, Travel Channel rated Knoebels number 2 out of their Top 10 Family Friendly Amusement Parks in the country. Knoebels won the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Award for best amusement park food for 14 consecutive years from 1998 until 2011.

Sources:

https://myfox8.com/2015/03/26/amusement-park-worker-hit-injured-by-roller-coaster-during-testing/

https://wnep.com/2015/03/26/worker-hurt-during-roller-coaster-testing/