AUSTELL, GA, June 28, 2008
Teen Decapitated In Six Flags Accident
Teen Struck By Batman Roller Coaster After Entering Restricted Area
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In this April 30 1997 file photo, the Batman roller coaster is seen at Six Flags over Georgia in Atlanta. Authorities say a teenager was decapitated by the roller coaster after he hopped a pair of fences and entered a restricted area at the amusement park. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal Constitution, Joey Ivansco, File) ()
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Cobb County Police Sgt. Dana Pierce delivers a statement at Six Flags over Georgia in Austell on Saturday, June 28, 2008. A teenager was decapitated by a roller coaster after he hopped a pair of fences and entered a restricted area Saturday at Six Flags Over Georgia, authorities said. (AP Photo/The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Allen Sullivan) ()
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Six Flags officials are uncertain why the unidentified 17-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, scaled two 6-foot fences and passed signs that said the restricted area was both off-limits and dangerous to visitors, spokeswoman Hela Sheth said in a news release.
Authorities were investigating reports from witnesses who said the teenager jumped the fences to retrieve a hat he lost while riding the Batman roller coaster, said Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce. Three security guards were keeping visitors away from the ride on Saturday.
Police said the ride was going full-speed when the teen was struck. The ride's top speed is 50 mph, according to the Six Flags Web site.
No one riding on the roller coaster was injured, Sheth said. The teen's friend also entered the restricted area but was not injured, Pierce said.
The teen and his parents were at the park with a group from the Oakey Spring Baptist Church near Springfield, South Carolina, police said.
In June 2007, a teenager's legs were severed when cables snapped on the Superman Tower of Power ride at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. Doctors were able to reattach Kaitlyn Lasitter's right foot, but she had to have some of her left leg amputated and subsequent surgeries.
State officials blame a faulty cable and slow response by an amusement park ride operator in the accident. Her family is suing Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, claiming the park failed to maintain the ride and equipment and ensure riders' safety. The amusement park has denied liability in court filings.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- I cannot believe that some of you people here are so insensitive. My gosh, the kid made a huge mistake and he suffered the consequences big time along with his family and friends. Accidents happen all the time. I have seen people make really stupid mistakes driving for instance or driving drunk, etc... so many of the same careless acts and we all are guilty. The bottom line? Where is the compassion because I don't see any here. And why do you attack Christianity? Not all Christians say "It must of been God's will". Tell me where does it say that in the Bible. God is a good God and why does He get blamed for all the bad things when people who have free will make their own choices. So please give it up and get some empathy...
You guys are the ones that need prayer... I feel sorry for you.. laughing and saying LOL about a tragedy. Shame on you... - Reply to this comment
- This is Darwin Awards worthy
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- Maybe was just so upset he couldn''t get his hat back that he just got rid of his whole head
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- NO NO NO NO....
GOD HAS PRESONALLY TOLD ME THE TRUITH. HE SAID THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NEVER HEARD IF JUSUS ALWAYS AND FOR SURE GO TO HEAVEN.
ON THE COTRARY, GOD ALSO TOLD ME THAT ALL THE BELIEVER OF JESUS BECOMES SERVANTS AND SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO NEVER HEARD OF JESUS.
Posted by ChatarPatar
.... ............
God told me we''re all aready in Heaven and turned it into a slum. - Reply to this comment
- Was this kid out of his mind?
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Posted by shawnp1968 at 02:05 PM : Jun 30, 2008
Technically he was "out of mind" before the accident... and AFTER the accident he PHYSICALLY became "out of mind" - Reply to this comment
- According to your religious philosophy, what happens to all the billions of people who were born and died and never heard of Jesus Christ?]
[Posted by minnick8 at 12:02 PM : Jun 30, 2008]
they''''''''re forgiven ... then allowed in.
Posted by bobnjersey
NO NO NO NO....
GOD HAS PRESONALLY TOLD ME THE TRUITH. HE SAID THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NEVER HEARD IF JUSUS ALWAYS AND FOR SURE GO TO HEAVEN.
ON THE COTRARY, GOD ALSO TOLD ME THAT ALL THE BELIEVER OF JESUS BECOMES SERVANTS AND SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO NEVER HEARD OF JESUS. - Reply to this comment
- ok so there is on less idioit in the world he was a seventeen year old he should have been able to read not one but two signs six flags did put up a fence they shouldnt have to go back and make it higher if this kid was obviously stupid enough to climb a fence then he got what he deserved no one else should be blamed than him and his friend and six flags shouldnt have to take the blame and Have to "pay his family off" it was the own kids fault and he probably wasnt going to get a hat he was probably scavaging or something stupid
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- I disagree with the statement that Six Flags should erect a barrier that teenagers (or whomever) cannot physically scale. The park did it''s part by erecting the fence and posting signage - teenagers are old enough to heed warnings. And when they exhibit bad judgement, as this one did, then consequences should be expected. No, I don''t think it''s "fair" that he died for a mistake, but in the real world, this is how it works. We can only hope others will learn from his mistake.
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- Jeez have a heart bloggers. Just because he made a bad/stupid decision doesn`t mean he deserved it. He lost his life and his family lost him. How hard that must be. Don`t rag on his poor judgement!
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- Supposedly, this teenage boy was going to retrieve his hat. Guys and their "hats", just like women and their "purses"! To think all he had to do was to contact anyone of the ride operators and this whole horrible mess could have been avoided.
The young girl who had her feet cut off was a whole different set of issues...she didn''t do anything except try to enjoy a ride! She didn''t go looking for trouble by hopping (not 1 but 2) fences! Kind of reminds me of the last time kids jumped fences and were attacked by tigers. Tigers that died because of teenage stupidity!!!
C,mon KIDS, wake up, smarten up and use that BRAIN!! - Reply to this comment
- It goes to show you why you shouldn''t go in the "restricted areas" of amusement parks! That girl whose feet got cut off---my God!!! I can''t imagine anything like that. She wasn''t doing anything she wasn''t suppose to have been doing. I hope she sued & got enough money so she never has to work or worry about anything again!
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- Oh my god i never thought of that one
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- loneeagle, I have just spent the last hour or so reading your posts. TFF. I am just sorry I didn''t log on earlier when you had the foreign fops steaming. I will probably check these blogs now that I know there''s quite a bit of entertainment going on. No, it is not right to make fun of the feeble minded... but, the kid''s family didn''t say he was retarded or mentally disabled. I still can''t understand why ANYONE would jump those *** fences! Kid was probably trying to impress a girl on the ride. He was thinking with the wrong head, I guess. No one mentioned that as a possibility...
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- OK everybody, i will admit i have officially run out of smartass things to say about this stupid schmuck''s ******* incident. If you are wondering just what i am talking about check out the posts toward the end. He did the stupid. He lost his head. He took on the batman and lost. I will be back. just as soon as the next idiot makes headlines. I am sure my critics will be too. Until next time. To my fans you have been great. To my critics: I want to take you all to see a roller coaster. Good night everybody this is loneeagle57 signing off
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- Common sense obviously evaded this young man. There are warnings posted all over the park, including the ticket. The family has no right to sue the park over their son''s ignorant decision. He should have heeded the warnings posted on the fences he and his buddy decided to jump. Where was the supervision of the church group he was supposedly with? It was a tragic event, but the family should not profit from their son''s own stupidity. At 17 most people can read a simple sign, unfortunately, this boy ignored repeated warnings posted on EVERY fence. I for one hope the church and other groups take this accident as a lesson and warn future guests to heed Danger signs. People! Talk to your children! Tell them to pay attention to their surroundings, and obey the signs! They are there for a reason! Parents are the first defense against kids making bad decisions.(by the way, if they want to keep saying he was just getting his hat, Six Flags will mail you your lost items if you report the item and give them your address. Free of charge.Just a thought.)
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- yea i kno it was..but we r still in shock that we was there when this happened
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- UMMM... That was a joke.
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- nope...we got there bout 10 sumthin and this didnt happen til bout 2pm...
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- It wasn''t your feet that went through that kid''s head was it?
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- me,my bf and sum friends of ours was at six flags when this happened...we went there for a vacation..we just cant believe we was there when this happened, that was the very first ride that we rode when we got there.but i feel sorry for the parents of wat happened to there son.
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