Xcelerator accident video leaked onto YouTube

September 18, 2009 at 12:27 PM · Suprised this video is still up!

September 18, 2009 at 12:42 PM · That was pretty damn shocking. After that explosion of wire, I thought there would have been a lot more blood. Thankfully, they seem to be OK.

September 18, 2009 at 2:22 PM · Video no longer there.

September 18, 2009 at 2:55 PM · Those cables do a lot of work on the Intamin launch coasters. Cedar Point had that happen a couple years back on Dragster. I'm thinking there is some kind of guard to prevent the cable from going completely nuts, but still glad nobody was seriously hurt.

The video is gone now.

September 18, 2009 at 3:38 PM · Here's a link to a working video... no audio though

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Knotts-Berry-Farm-Rollercoaster-Accident-Injures-Guests-59751017.html

September 18, 2009 at 9:44 PM · Man, that kid and that man are going to get PAID. Glad to hear there weren't any serious injuries.

September 18, 2009 at 10:43 PM · The video is up on Break.com. I don't get how the cable could have come up through the train.

September 19, 2009 at 9:48 PM · The cable didn't come up through the train. When it snaps it gets reeled into the control station that houses all of the hydraulics and LIMs. Here is what happened, train launched 3/4 of the way, cable snapped and got reeled into the station, the "bob" or launch car(not actually a car just a device that latches onto the coaster) coasted to a stop at the end, roller coaster rolled back and passed over it and came to a stop at the braking section just outside the loading station. Injury to the kid's leg was not severe(small cuts but nothing where it was gushing blood) and the man next to him(not related to the kid at all) complained of back injuries. The car does not experience a jolt when the cable snaps because all of the moving parts and momentum are going the same direction therefore he was likely faking injury to get paid and was just freaking out because he got hit with some debris. Treat the kid onsite and let him go enjoy some other rides. It is a damn shame that these 2 will likely sue Knott's for a LOT of money and maybe the others on the coaster as well. Go make your own money and quit suing people to maintain your lifestyle. If this happened to me i'd simply ask for a settlement that consisted of: you pay for my hospital visit and you give me a lifetime pass to all Cedar Fair parks, parking included, because I like your roller coasters and I don't want there to be any hard feelings. Now if someone was seriously injured or fatally wounded, then obviously what I said need not apply and you should be awarded a king's ransom for that. Alas, nobody was seriously injured and these things happen. It is also too bad that the maintenance crew working that day will likely get terminated even if they did their job correctly and checked everything. Cables don't have to fray to snap mind you. This was bound to happen sooner or later. It has already happened multiple times on Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster. Read up on it.

September 20, 2009 at 9:18 PM · i like this Alex Russian guy right on. :]

September 21, 2009 at 11:06 AM · New Link on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGJGl4SfKCg&feature=channel

September 21, 2009 at 11:29 AM · To the guy who posted that the people should not ask for a lawsuit, my response has nothing to do with that particular point, but with your analysis of what happened. My problem is that on the video you can clearly see debris traveling along with the train the entire time... up the tower, and reverse down to the stop. My hypothesis with this is that it is fiberglass from the train. I don't believe the cable came through the train, however, I do believe it did impact the train when it snapped. You can see debris on the man's shirt even after the train had stopped.

Secondly, I'm not sure if you are completely correct in your understandings of the mechanics of a rocket coaster. At about 13 seconds into the video, if you watch the child's seat, it is jarred abruptly, shifting it to the right, and up. That either implies the integrity of the train is compromised, or that there was a force that caused it move. Did the train roll over the cable perhaps on the return trip?