Schlitterbahn

[ksupamplemousse]

The owner of the water park referred to the ride as, "dangerous, but it's a safe dangerous now" after they had gotten the rafts to stop flying off the ride during testing. I'd imagine this guy will lose his shorts on this.

[SkinnyBenny]

I mean, I hope so.

[The Big Train]

This whole thing sounds like a scene out of final destination

[Rage Against the McKee]

Was the ride the super-tall slide they were promoting a couple of years ago, or do they have other even more dangerous slides at the park?

[WildcatNkilt]

I had no idea they tore some of it down and rebuilt it until I watched a Travel Channel special.  Seems like they built it like someone would build a skate ramp in their backyard.  Built-->Test-->Redo until the results are acceptable.   

[CNS]

Yeah, redo until a few dozen rafts don't fly off 75ft in the air....good to go.

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[ArchE_Cat]

Yeah they had ride path issues originally. the slide sections appear to match the sections used on their master blaster ride exactly. original build likely used standard master blaster sections to create the ride path. same slide piece lengths and curve radius, but didn't mean the ride would work for their desired weight range. the original intent may have been for the slide to be a 4 person ride. So it got built and they couldn't calibrate the rafts going up the little hill for the desired weight range. i believe you get sent up the little hill with jets similar to the master blaster. so they spent tons of money making the initial drop shorter and adjusted the hill. cut down the weight range by dropping a rider and they got a ride that works for a specific weight range. it sounds like what happened is an issue with them posibly becoming lax in enforcing the ride parameters related to the riders and or something not being right with the "harness" in the raft.

old promo artwork:

[Trim]

Was the park doing good business and if so, was it due to that ride?  I still can't get past how it appears to be placed in a dirt lot.  And I'd guess dirt people.

[star seed 7]

I can't imagine getting in a raft with 3 randos that are half naked and likely peeing in the raft

[kim carnes]

0% shocked u guys are flying off the handle at the owner

[DQ12]

do we know exactly what happened yet?

[Trim]

SchlitterGONE.

[catastrophe]

I'd be surprised if they could even afford to keep the park open. This sounds a lot like that case that got John Edwards all his money. Zero sympathy for anyone involved in green lighting that ride.

[AppleJack]

I need to understand what was different about this raft/boy/operator than the thousands before it.

[catastrophe]

Do you actually, though? I can't think of a scenario where it would make a difference from a culpability perspective unless maybe the two other riders actually just murdered the kid and made it look like an accident somehow.

[AppleJack]

If the cause was the weight/height/age of the boy then they are in big trouble.

I'm assuming they have a height check thingy before you hope on.

[Mrs. Gooch]

I need to understand what was different about this raft/boy/operator than the thousands before it.

He wasn't as lucky as those other people.

(i.e. It was dangerous the whole time and this kid just happened to be on the one time it killed someone.)

[TCUHornedFrog]

I went to the original Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels last Friday.

There were no deaths nor death slides.

[kso_FAN]

If the cause was the weight/height/age of the boy then they are in big trouble.

I'm assuming they have a height check thingy before you hope on.

It's all weight based from what I understand. 2-3 people must weigh more than 400 but less than 550. From what I saw, they do weigh the groups before they are even allowed to climb the stairs to the ride.

I was there in mid July and almost rode the ride with my 12 year old and 15 year old but we did not want to wait in line.

[kim carnes]

I need to understand what was different about this raft/boy/operator than the thousands before it.

He wasn't as lucky as those other people.

(i.e. It was dangerous the whole time and this kid just happened to be on the one time it killed someone.)

Ya ok

[pissclams]

not that it matters because this will never go to trial but kansas tort limits non-economic damages at $300k

[kim carnes]

not that it matters because this will never go to trial but kansas tort limits non-economic damages at $300k

Sorry man, we won't rest until schlitterbahn is shutdown

[SkinnyBenny]

not that it matters because this will never go to trial but kansas tort limits non-economic damages at $300k

Damn. Kinda think the family deserves more than that. Like a lot more.

[star seed 7]

How do you know the kid wasn't being a dumbass, which is usually the case on a ride fatality?

[AppleJack]

yeah I need more facts.