Great America closes ride after girl's injury

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 23, 2007 | by Kim VoSTAFF

Great America has temporarily closed its Drop Zone ride, part of a nationwide precaution after a girl's feet were severed on a similar ride in Kentucky.

On Thursday, the girl's feet were cut at the ankle on the Superman Tower of Power ride, which carries passengers 177 feet up, then drops them at speeds reaching 54 mph, according to The Associated Press.

It was unclear at what point during the ride she was injured. The Tower of Power at the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, the Drop Zone and seven other thrill rides throughout the country were shut down after the accident.

The ride's manufacturer contacted Great America in Santa Clara on Thursday. The amusement park immediately shut down Drop Zone, which is made by the same company, said communications manager Greg Fruge.

"We're doing it as a precautionary measure," he said. "We want to make sure everything is OK, and we're going to reinspect."

The park won't reopen the ride until then. Fruge was unsure how long that would take.

Visitors at Santa Clara's park on Friday expressed worry, but a few said they'd take their chances on it in the future.

"It's a little worrisome that can happen to us," said Mike Shaffer, 16, of Livermore, who saw the Drop Zone being tested. "I'll probably ride it again." He was disappointed that it was closed when he arrived, but after hearing what happened, he said he probably would have skipped it Friday anyway.

His friend Shawn Donohue, 16, of Pleasanton was more certain. "I think it's better safe than sorry. I probably won't ride it again. I'm a very superstitious person. When I heard about it this morning, I had already said that I wasn't going to be riding it."

Patricia Molina, 35, of San Carlos said she was worried, but would probably ride it again and even allow her children to do so if they wanted.

"I tell the kids to check their seatbelt and to make sure they hold down tight," Molina said.

For Michael Neb, it wasn't even an issue. "I'm scared of it," he said.

Drop Zone, which Great America describes as "one of the tallest and most intense free-fall rides in the world," goes up 129 feet and drops passengers at speeds reaching 62 mph before the magnetic brakes are applied.

In 1999 a 12-year-old boy fell to his death while riding Drop Zone.

Cedar Fair, which operates Great America, shut down four other rides at Kings Island near Cincinnati; Canada's Wonderland, in Toronto; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va.; and Carowinds, in Charlotte, N.C..

Six Flags shut down similar rides at St. Louis; Gurnee, Ill., and near Washington as a precaution, according to a company spokeswoman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Kim Vo at kvo(at)mercurynews.com.