Family sues Cypress Gardens over coaster fall

[speck76]

The parents of a 13-year-old Orlando boy who was seriously injured when he fell from a roller coaster at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park last month sued the theme park for negligence. Martin Llamas of Orlando fell 10 to 12 feet onto the grass from the Triple Hurricane roller coaster on Feb. 25. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said he had maneuvered out of the lap bar and was facing the cars behind him when he was thrown out of the coaster on a sharp turn.

But his parents, Publio Junco and Maria Cota, dispute witness accounts that their son was standing up in the car. They filed suit Friday, claiming Cypress Gardens failed to ensure the ride was safe, and failed to maintain and inspect it to prevent injury.

Cypress Gardens spokeswoman Lynn Wright said the park didn't do anything wrong. "We stand by the results of the completed investigations of state and local officials, which cleared the park of any negligence or error in this unfortunate accident," Wright said.

An inspector with the Florida State Bureau of Fair Ride Inspection concluded there was no malfunction with the ride and the boy was properly restrained by the coaster's lap restraint. The ride was reopened the day after the accident.

Llamas remains hospitalized in Tampa.

 

[napnet]

heh, beat me to posting it...

I love how personal responsibility has gone the wayside...

"so what if my kid wiggled out of your ride restraints and caused his own injury... you should have chained him down to where he couldnt move at all!" :brick:

 

[wannab@dis]

I don't know. It seems like it would be hard for a 13 year old to "wiggle" out of properly placed restraints. If the kid intentionally tried to get away with the restraints not being in place correctly so he could "attempt to stand up" then it seems like a "stupid guest" issue. However, if the ride attendants didn't make sure he was restrained well, then I can see their point.

If this is an issue of a stupid guest trying to impress friends, then the lawsuit should be thrown out.

 

[kal1484]

You can "wiggle" out of most rides that are lapbars. Even if it's placed on my leg tight, I can still get out of it if I need to. People are just lawsuit crazy these days.

 

[wannab@dis]

You can "wiggle" out of most rides that are lapbars. Even if it's placed on my leg tight, I can still get out of it if I need to. People are just lawsuit crazy these days.

You're probably right... I've just never tried. :lookaroun

I guess it comes down to a simple question then. Did he "wiggle" out or was he actually "thrown" out because the restraints weren't placed properly?

 

[napnet]

Investigators say that the boy was turned around and facing the seats behind him as the train approached a sharp right turn. Because he was turned around, he was not secured by the lap bar that should have been across his legs and the force of the ride threw him over the side and out of the car. Cypress Gardens says some witnesses claim the boy was standing up when he fell, though his parents dispute that. He fell 10 to 12 feet onto the grass. (News Link)


That sounds like he intentionally got out.... if your restraints was broken or not working, why would you stand up and turn around? It looks like the kid was trying to show off. Sounds like his injuries were due to stupidity on his part. Also, you can wiggle out of lap bars, its quite easy, especially if your small.

Also this happened at the end of the ride, if he was not properly restrained than im sure he would have been tossed earlier... you can see the ride here.

 

[FigmentJedi]

The kid's last name makes me giggle. I just finished watching Emperor's New Groove.