Let's get one thing clear : Roller coasters are statistically very, very, very safe. Think about it: Out of the millions of people that ride the thousands of rides every year, there are only a small handful of incidents. You are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident driving to the park than having an accident on a ride. Fact.
Reputable theme parks check all of their rides daily. The coaster track is "walked" and inspected as are all the other important elements, such as winch cables and chains. One slight imperfection could cause an accident, and no theme park wants that to happen. Strict Health & Safety governing bodies also have the power to close a ride, or park, if they are considered unsafe.
Having said all that, accidents still happen...
2007
April - Unknown, Legoland, Billund, Denmark A 21 year old male employee died after being struck by a coaster train when retrieving a guest's wallet from behind a restricted area security fence.
May - Fujin Raijin II, Expoland, Osoka, Japan One woman died and 21 were injured when the ride broke from it's axle and jumped the track. Image fromFox News report
June - Superman Tower of Power, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdon, Louisville, KY, USA A 13 year old girl lost her feet when the cable snapped on this drop tower ride. News article
June - Rock 'n Rollercoaster, Disneyland Paris, France A Spanish teenager fell unconscious and died. Possible cause of death is unknown medical condition. Source.
July - The Rat, Loudoun Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland An 18 year old worker fell 80ft and sustained horific injuries whilst working on the ride.
July- Air Glory, Wis, USA A 16-year-old died in hospital after falling from the Skycoaster-style ride.
August- Octupus, Six Flags America, USA A 4-year-old girl fell four foot from the ride when she stood up, sustaining minor injuries.
August- Polar Express, Coney Island, NY, USA A 15-year-old girl was thrown from the circular ride and sustained injuries from rolling down a hill.
August - Booster, Fete des Loges, Paris, France A father and son died when the cable came loose causing them to drop to the ground.
October - Indiana Log ride, Siam Park City, Thailand One woman was killed and five injured when a faulty water pump failed to cusion the boat's decent from a drop. Source.
2006
March - Atlantis Adventure, Lotte World, Seoul, South Korea A 28 year old ride op fell to his death after riding under the influence of alcohol and not securing the restraint properly.
May - Train, Gullivers Milton Keynes, Beds, UK. A 56 year old worker died after his head struck a tunnel that the train enters.
May - Wild Thing, Valleyfair, Shakopee, Minnesota, USA 18 riders suffered minor injuries when the train derailed. News report & video
June - Rock n Rollercoaster, Disney-MGM Studios, CA, USA A 12 year old boy died due to an undiagnosed medical condition brought on by the roller coaster. News report.
July - Runaway Mine Train, Alton Towers, Staffs, UK 29 people were injured when the train separated and crashed into each other. News report.
2005
March - Storybook Land Canal, Disneyland, Anaheim, California, USA A young boy lost the top of his thumb after trapping it between the boat and the station.
May - Bob Express, Bobbejaanland, Brussels, Belgium 25 people suffered minor injuries after two trains collided following an emergency stop!
June - Rita: Queen of Speed, Alton Towers, Staffs, UK A 12 year old girl claims that the force of the ride broke both her wrists. News report.
July - California Screamin' , Disneyland, Anaheim, California, USA Two trains collided after a train entering the station failed to stop in the brake run. (Image from NBC4.com)
August - Lady Bug Coaster, Adventureland, Farmingdale, New York, USA A ride op died from severe injuries after being struck by an empty train.
2004
January - Men In Black, Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA A boy seriously injured his foot after he kept sticking it outside the car.
February - Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA A worker was killed when he was struck by a float from the parade.
April - Scream, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, USA A female employee was struck by a train as she crossed the track in a restricted area.
April - Hyrdo, Oakwood, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK A 16 year old girl died after falling 100ft due to to rider error and, to some extent, inappropriate restraints. BBC News Report
May - Superman Ride of Steel, Six Flags New England, Agawam, Massachusetts, USA A 55 year old man was ejected from the ride mid-ride and died from severe injuries.
June - Magnum Force, Flamingoland, Yorkshire, England, UK A 32 year old ride op was airlifted to hospital after stepping in front of a moving train. BBC News Report
July - Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, USA Four riders were injured by flying debris when the launch cable snapped.
2003
July - Joker's Jukebox, Six Flags New Orleans, USA A 53 woman was killed when she was struck by the ride after leaning over the guard rails to check the security of her grandsons safety belt.
July - Two Face, Six Flag America, Maryland, USA An electrical failure stranded passengers on the lift hill. No injuries. You can watch footage of this here!
August - Steel Dragon, Nagashima Spaland, Nagashima, Japan Two riders were injured when the train derailed following a wheel coming loose.
2002
May - Batman The Ride, Six Flags Over Georgia, Atlanta, USA A 56 year old employee was killed when he was in a restricted area beneath the train. He was struck by a riders foot.
May - Rainbow Ride, Six Flags Elitch Gardens, Denver, Colorado, USA A man fell to his death after unfastening his seat belt mid-ride. News report.
May - Nemesis, Alton Towers, Staffs, England, UK A young boy was struck by the train after he entered a restricted area. He suffered head injuries.
May - The Whip, Kennywood Park, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, USA The ride collapsed during a storm killing a 30 year old woman and injuring numerous others.
2001
May - Grand Canyon, Phantasialand, Bruehl, Germany 63 people were injured following a fire suspected to have started by a faulty cable.
May - Birdmen, Fujikyu Highland, Fujiyoshida, Japan 2 people were injured when one of the flying trains derailed.
June - Boulder Dash, Lake Compounce, Bristol, Connecticut, USA A 23 year old working was killed when he was stuck by a train in the morning's test run.
June - Tree Top Twister, Lightwayer Valley, Ripon, Yorks, England, UK A 20 year old woman died and three others were injured when two trains collided. BBC News Report
August - Superman Ride of Steel, Six Flags New England, Agawam, Massachusetts, USA 22 people were injured when two trains collided in the station.
September - Perlious Plunge, Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, California, USA A 40 year old woman fell 100ft to her death after not sitting correctly and poor safety checks beforehand.
October - Beast, Paramount's Kings Island, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Two trains collided in wet weather injuring 20 people.
October - Guantlet, Camelot, Lancs, England, UK A 59 year old worker was killed when he was struck by a train.
2000
May - Batman Knight Flight, Six Flags Ohio, Aurora, Ohio, USA A 17 year old ride op was injured when this floorless coaster's loading platform moved out from under her.
June - X:\No Way Out, Thrope Park, Surrey, England, UK An 11 year old boy was flung from the ride and escaped with slight injuries. Cause of accident unknown.
June - Zach's Zoomer, Michigan's Adventure, Muskegon, Michigan, USA A 38 year old woman was killed when she fell out mid-ride after turning round to photograph her family.
July - Space Invader, Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancs, England, UK An 11 year old boy died after falling from this enclosed roller coaster.
August - Pepsi Max Big One, Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancs, England, UK 14 people were injured when a moving train collided with a stationery train. BBC News Report
November - Splash Mountain, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA A 37 year old man was struck by another boat and died later in hospital after he left his boat mid-ride.
1999
March - Roaring Rapids, Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas, USA One woman drowned and 10 others were injured when a boat capsized trapping passengers underneath.
April - Thunder Road, Paramount's Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA Seven people were injured after two trains collided following a brake failure.
May - Superman: Ride of Steel, Six Flags Darien Lake, Darien Center, New York, USA A man suffered slight injuries when he was ejected mid ride.
June - Super Himalaya, Coney Island Amusement Park in Brooklyn, New York, USA A 17 year old woman was killed and 8 others were injured when a train left the track, flipped and fell 15ft.
July - Thunder Bolt, Kennywood Amusement Park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, USA 35 people were injured when two trains collided.
August - Tornado, Lake Compounce, Bristol, Connecticut, USA A 16 year old employee got caught from the waist down underneath a train and died in hospital from his injuries.
August - Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Paramount's Great America, Santa Clara, California, USA A 12 year old boy fell out of this 224ft tower ride. The exact cause of boy's fall and subsequent death is unknown.
August - Boomerang, Six Flags Marine World, San Fransisco, CA, USA Riders were stranded in 100 degrees Fahrenheit heat when the ride malfunctioned due to technical problems. (Image from CNN.com)
1998
August - Paul Bunyan Log Chute, Knott's Camp Snoopy, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA A 12 year old boy fell about 35ft after grabbing a railing on a fixed part of the ride.
August - Screaming Yellow Eagle, Knott's Camp Snoopy, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA An 8 year old girl with heart problems died of a heart attack.
September - Top Gun, Paramount's Great America, Santa Clara, California, USA A 24 year old man died after entering a restricted area beneath the ride and being struck by a riders foot.
September -Tower of Terror, Disney MGM Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA 20 people were taken to hospital after the lift car malfunctions. Emergency stopping procedures prevented any deaths.
December - Columbia, Disneyland, Anaheim, California, USA A 33 year old man died and two women sustained injuries from a flying piece of metal which broke away.
1997
April - Wildcat, Bell's Amusement Park, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA One person died and five others were injured when two trains collided following a mechanical failure.
August - Excaliber, Six Flags Astroworld, Houston, Texas, USA A 51 year old employee dies when he's struck by a train during testing.
1996
May - Revolution, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, USA A 25 year old employee was hit by a train and killed as he crossed the tracks in the station.
October - Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California, USA A 56 year old employee died when he was caught between two steam train cars.
1995
June - Timber Wolf, Worlds of Fun, Kansas City, Missouri, USA A 14 year old girl dies after falling 25ft due to sitting incorrectly when the ride was in motion.
August - Great Nor'Easter, Morey's Pier, Wildwood, New Jersey, USA A 36 year old park employee dies after being struck by the foot of a passenger traveling overhead.
1991
June - Kings Island, Ohio, USA Two men died in a pond after being electrocuted trying to save another man.
July - Ferris Wheel, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA A 17 year old man dies after a Ferris wheel gondola breaks free caused by the occupants rocking it.
1989
July - Log Flume, Marine World, Santa Clara, California, USA A 9 year old boy tried to exit the boat as it was mid-ride, causing him to get stuck under the boat.
1988
August - Cyclone, Astroland, Coney Island, New York, USA A park employee stood up on the first drop and fell 30ft to his death.
September - Dragon, Playland, Rye, New York, USA An 8 year old girl died when chewing gum became lodged at the back of her throat.
1987
June - Lightnin' Loops, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey, USA Negligent ride ops caused a 19 year old woman to fell to her death after the restraints were not checked properly.
1986
June - Mind Bender, Galaxyland, Canada The worst accident in roller coaster history. A wheel sheered off the last car on the train of this Schwarzkopf Triple Looper and the train smashed at high speed into a concrete pillar killing all the riders.
August - Comet, Lincoln Park, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, USA A 27 year old employee died after falling out.
1985
May - Cyclone, Astroland, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, USA A 29 year old man stands up during the ride and WHACK! Head hits a support. Family attend funeral.
1984
January - Matterhorn, Disneyland, California, USA Due to a seat belt malfunction, a woman died when she fell out of the train and into the path of another one.
May - Haunted Castle, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Township, New Jersey, USA Eight teenagers died in a fire caused by a cigarette lighter igniting the themeing. The lighter was being used after the attractions main lights failed.
July - Rail Blazer, Six Flags Over Mid-America, Eureka, Missouri, USA A woman falls out mid-ride and plunges 20ft to her death. The exact cause is unknown.
1981
August - Rolling Thunder, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey, USA A 20 year old employee died during testing after not securing his restraint properly.
1980
March - Willard's Whizzer, Marriott's Great America, Santa Clara, California, USA A 13 year old boy was killed as he boarded a train. Another train coming from behind struck him.
Remember to hold on tight, keep out of restricted areas, sit correctly and follow all instructions given on ride information signs and by ride operators and it's very unlikely that you'll have an accident.
Believe it or not there are actually roller coaster accident lawyers! Click here and here. Only in America, lol.
Obviously not all incidents can be mentioned here. If you think we should add one to this list, send an email to ian@coasterforce.com and include a link to a source to prove the incident is genuine.
