Child who reportedly fell from Idlewild coaster flown to hospital

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Child who reportedly fell from Idlewild coaster flown to hospital

August 11, 2016 3:13 PM

By Jonathan D. Silver / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A child who reportedly fell this afternoon from a roller coaster at the Idlewild and SoakZone amusement park in Ligonier was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital in a medical helicopter.

There was no information about the nature or extent of injuries to the child. But Mary Beth Eslary, spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety, said the patient was conscious while being attended to by an ambulance crew on the premises.
....

Walter Remmert, director of the Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards, said one of his inspectors happened to be conducting a routine inspection at Idlewild this morning. ... "I actually have an inspector on site or about to be on site," Mr. Remmert said earlier this afternoon.
....

Idlewild, which opened in 1878 as Idlewild Park, bills itself as "the longest-operating theme park near Pittsburgh" as well as in Pennsylvania, and the third-oldest in the U.S. In 2012 the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recognized Idlewild Park with a roadside marker.
....

Jonathan D. Silver: [e-mail], 412-263-1962 or on Twitter @jsilverpg.

[femmocrat]

1. KDKA reporting that no information will be released about the child,

at the request of his family. The wooden Rollo Coaster was built in 1938.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. At the PP-G website Friday morning: same story, updated.

Three-year-old boy falls from roller coaster at Idlewild

August 11, 2016 7:36 PM

By Jonathan D. Silver and Andrew Goldstein / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Local police and state inspectors spent much of Thursday investigating how a 3-year-old boy fell from a roller coaster at Idlewild and SoakZone amusement park in Ligonier in one of several such incidents across the nation this week that have led to increased scrutiny of thrill rides.

No information was available about the extent of the boy’s injuries, but he was conscious before he was flown in a medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital.

“He was talking,” Idlewild spokesman Jeff Croushore said. “He was alert with his family, but he was airlifted to a local hospital.”

Mr. Croushore addressed media Thursday afternoon outside the park and said the boy was injured on the Rollo Coaster, a 78-year-old attraction for riders who must be 48 inches tall if alone or 36 inches tall if accompanied by an adult.
....

Jonathan D. Silver: [e-mail], 412-263-1962 or on Twitter @jsilverpg. Andrew Goldstein: [e-mail] or 412-263-1352

First Published August 11, 2016 1:00 PM

[femmocrat]

3. Would a three-year old be 36 inches tall?

Last edited Fri Aug 12, 2016, 07:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Seems awfully young to be riding a coaster.

On edit: He was riding with his 7-year old brother, not an adult. The ride does not have seat belts, but has a lap bar.

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