Amputee Died After Falling Out of the "Ride of Steel" Roller Coaster

Mandarotica · #1 07-09-2011, 01:33 PM

An Erie County man was killed when he fell from a roller coaster at Darien Lake Theme Park and Resort on Friday afternoon.
According to Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies, James Hackemer, a veteran who lost both of his legs in the Iraq war, became dislodged from the Ride of Steel around 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Police said Hackemer, who is from Gowanda, had one of his legs amputated at the leg, and the other amputated at the knee. According to police, Hackemer didn’t have prosthetic legs.

The 29-year-old Hackemer was visiting Darien Lake for the day with his wife and children, according to police, who said he was riding in the front car of the Ride Of Steel. Police said the coaster was going around 50 miles per hour when Hackemer fell out.

The Ride Of Steel is one of the tallest coasters east of the Mississippi. The ride’s peak height is 208 feet and it reaches speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour.

The ride has a lapbar and seat belts. Police said there were no issues with the ride, and Hackemer was properly secured.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the Ride of Steel. The ride will be closed until further notice. The state Department of Labor is coming out to Darien Lake to inspect the ride to determine if it is safe to operate.

Darien Lake will have regular hours Saturday. Darien Lake released a statement saying that “our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the guest.”

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/top...t-darien-lake/

Drusilla · #2 07-09-2011, 01:56 PM

I dunno.The older I get the less I trust fairground rides.More & more people seem to die pointlessly on these fucking things in the name of 'fun'.A lot of them look like they haven't seen any maintainence since the Year Dot,and the carnies are holding them together with rubber bands & vaseline.
What a terrible end for the guy,when he'd been through so much.

AmericanIllusions · #3 07-09-2011, 03:40 PM

Yea u survive Iraq just to die like that? Bullshit. What went wrong.

dooshman · #4 07-09-2011, 06:55 PM

Must've been a long way to the bottom.

Mandarotica · #5 07-09-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drusilla

I dunno.The older I get the less I trust fairground rides.More & more people seem to die pointlessly on these fucking things in the name of 'fun'.A lot of them look like they haven't seen any maintainence since the Year Dot,and the carnies are holding them together with rubber bands & vaseline.
What a terrible end for the guy,when he'd been through so much.

It wasn't a fair though, it was an amusement park. I've actually been on that ride quite a few times.

Woeisme4L · #6 07-09-2011, 11:05 PM

This happened in my hometown of Buffalo,NY pretty sad news, I have also been on the superman a few times!

DiamondSmiles · #7 07-09-2011, 11:18 PM

Was he wearing his prostetics?

Mandarotica · #8 07-09-2011, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondsmiles

Was he wearing his prostetics?

No. One leg was entirely gone and one was amputated at the knee.

scubahood · #9 07-10-2011, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drusilla

I dunno.The older I get the less I trust fairground rides.More & more people seem to die pointlessly on these fucking things in the name of 'fun'.A lot of them look like they haven't seen any maintainence since the Year Dot,and the carnies are holding them together with rubber bands & vaseline.
What a terrible end for the guy,when he'd been through so much.

do you drive in a car ever?

Illusion · #10 07-10-2011, 02:45 AM

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