Man Dies After Fall From Roller Coaster
A 55-year-old man with cerebral palsy died after falling out of a roller coaster on Saturday in May 2004
The man, Stanley J. Mordarsky, fell from the Superman Ride of Steel coaster at Six Flags New England, in Agawam, Mass., about 90 miles west of Boston, park officials said.
Park officials said Mr. Mordarsky was able to board the roller coaster by himself, according to broadcast reports on Sunday. The park, under the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, must allow disabled people on rides if they can get in the rides by themselves, the officials said.
The man’s mother, Germaine Mordarsky, said he should not have been allowed on the ride because he could barely walk and used a motorized scooter for transportation.
Christine Cole, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts public safety office, said state inspectors examined the ride after the accident and planned to issue a report in the ”very near future.” She said that no timetable was set for the report and that the ride would remain closed until the park provided information that state safety officials requested.
A 55-year-old man with cerebral palsy died when he fell out of a roller coaster at an amusement park, according to park officials and a newspaper report.
Stanley J. Mordarsky of Bloomfield, Connecticut, fell out of the Superman Ride of Steel roller coaster Saturday as it was approaching the end of its run at the Six Flags New England amusement park, park officials said.
“All of a sudden people started screaming, ‘Stop the ride, stop the ride,’ someone has fallen off,” eyewitness Sara Syez told WHDH-TV in Boston.
“They finally stopped the ride and it was extreme panic and we looked and all the people in the cars were crying … and we looked over to the side and there was a gentleman laying by the fence.”
Mordarsky was pronounced dead 45 minutes later at a local hospital, the park said.
The victim’s 82-year-old mother, Germaine Mordarsky, told The Hartford Courant her son had cerebral palsy and used a scooter for transportation. She said her son liked to visit the park 145 kilometers (90 miles) west of Boston two or three times a year.
“I can’t understand why they would let him on a ride like that in the first place. He was so sickly and handicapped. I just can’t believe it,” she said.
Park spokeswoman Mary Ann Burns said there are ride requirements to ensure safety, and guidelines for the disabled, The Courant reported. She would not comment further.
The ride was closed immediately and park officials, police and the state are investigating. It was not known late Saturday what caused the accident.
Park officials said the roller coaster had been inspected Saturday morning and was certified for operation by state certified inspectors before the park’s season opening on April 17.