News Guest dies, found unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers

[disneylandtour]

Thanks for the update. Do you expect the attraction to be closed this entire time, or just don’t know anything further?

I can't imagine a situation in which the coaster re-opens before multiple reports are finished, including a full medical report. I'm pretty sure there will also be reviews of how this particular track course interacts with the restraint system, a report on its structural integrity, and a report on how operation may have placed unforeseen stresses on the system. Also a review of how water-filled dummies were used to test Gs and restraints. I think we're really looking at months. And the outcome may be a change to policies or a change to the track, restraints, or ride vehicles, which could be extensive.

 

[lazyboy97o]

A guess here: as similar Mack coaster have similars ADA / Amputee guidance, I'm guessing these similar statements of guidance came from Mack. And the pieces, with the Thorpe Park change, seem to be pointing to something related to body type as at least one cause of the tragedy, which is related to to the ADA / Amputee guidance. Again, there's a lot of unknowns presently, but my sense, based on the small pieces known, seems to point things gently in this direction.

Except some of the changes at Thorpe Park, which is so far the only reported change, have to do with guests without hands.

 

[disneylandtour]

I know nothing further, but would guess that due to the press and the fact that there is a death, the reopening of the attraction is now beyond the decision makers in Orlando and is now up to the C-suite in Philadelphia.

This is speculation though.

This is a great question. Typically, Disney and Universal self-regulate in Florida. But also, the county sheriff has started its own investigation, which includes a medical report. For a minor accident, Disney and Universal could decide when to re-open on their own. Does this still hold when there's been a death? At a certain point, external oversight supersedes self-regulation. I would assume that with a death, we're at that point. But also, I don't know.

 

[disneylandtour]

Except some of the changes at Thorpe Park, which is so far the only reported change, have to do with guests without hands.

It seems to be that Thorpe is casting a wide net to include any other body type variations that also might not have been adequately protected by the Mack restraint system. A chunk of this is all about legal protection for Thorpe. There is now the possibility of a design problem in terms of seating compartment and/or restraints (we don't know that yet, but this now seems to be one of a very few reasonable possibilities). Thorpe (and I would assume Europa, very soon) need to demonstrate that they reacted in a timely fashion to this information, otherwise they may appear negligent if a similar accident happens there.

 

[Comped]

A guess here: as similar Mack coaster have similars ADA / Amputee guidance, I'm guessing these similar statements of guidance came from Mack. And the pieces, with the Thorpe Park change, seem to be pointing to something related to body type as at least one cause of the tragedy, which is related to to the ADA / Amputee guidance. Again, there's a lot of unknowns presently, but my sense, based on the small pieces known, seems to point things gently in this direction.

Yep. I saw that and totally forgot to mention that - but the changes there do seem to cover a lot of ground that isn't

With past Orlando park tragedies, if there were pre-existing conditions, they almost always came out quickly with the initial report.

Correct. Which has been my point all along. We'd not have the attraction closed for week, or months, if the guy died from a heart attack or something, based on previous incidents and timelines.

I can't imagine a situation in which the coaster re-opens before multiple reports are finished, including a full medical report. I'm pretty sure there will also be reviews of how this particular track course interacts with the restraint system, a report on its structural integrity, and a report on how operation may have placed unforeseen stresses on the system. Also a review of how water-filled dummies were used to test Gs and restraints. I think we're really looking at months. And the outcome may be a change to policies or a change to the track, restraints, or ride vehicles, which could be extensive.

I personally think that 3-4 months is a likely timeline for the coaster to reopen (assuming they wait for the ME report to do so), given most of those reports can be done in a much shorter amount of time than the ME report.

Except some of the changes at Thorpe Park, which is so far the only reported change, have to do with guests without hands.

Correct. It could be overreaction to this incident, it could be to ensure the coaster is in line with the Equality Act 2010, it could have been planned changes. We will likely never know.

This is a great question. Typically, Disney and Universal self-regulate in Florida. But also, the county sheriff has started its own investigation, which includes a medical report. For a minor accident, Disney and Universal could decide when to re-open on their own. Does this still hold when there's been a death? At a certain point, external oversight supersedes self-regulation. I would assume that with a death, we're at that point. But also, I don't know.

Also the very small chance that there's an active criminal investigation that could result in an outcome almost nobody's considered (charges, which would be quite unprecedented). Highly, highly, highly, unlikely but it cannot be ruled out.

 

[Minthorne]

State investigators say they agree with Universal Orlando Resort's findings that a ride was operating normally when a guest became unconscious and later died.

"The department's current findings align with those shared by Universal after monitoring the same tests and reviewing the same information. The investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available," the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said.

Universal Orlando Resort president says Stardust Racers ride was functioning properly

WESH 2 has obtained a copy of a letter sent to Universal Orlando employees after the death of a guest who rode the Stardust Racers roller coaster.

www.wesh.com

 

[Sir_Cliff]

State investigators say they agree with Universal Orlando Resort's findings that a ride was operating normally when a guest became unconscious and later died.

"The department's current findings align with those shared by Universal after monitoring the same tests and reviewing the same information. The investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available," the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said.

Universal Orlando Resort president says Stardust Racers ride was functioning properly

WESH 2 has obtained a copy of a letter sent to Universal Orlando employees after the death of a guest who rode the Stardust Racers roller coaster.

www.wesh.com

At least that puts to rest the rumour about the ride coming apart.

We shall see what caused this, but very sad when things like this happen, particularly as it seems everything was working correctly and the attraction was, no doubt, tested quite thoroughly.