The unexpected hazards of riding a roller coaster

[marmar]

http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/266097/250/Roller-coaster-rider-and-bird-collide


JACKSON, N.J. (The Asbury Park Press NJ) - A bird crashed into the face of a person at Six Flags Great Adventure who was riding the Kingda Ka roller coaster on Thursday.

The person, who was identified only as a juvenile male, suffered minor injuries to the face and neck and was taken to an area hospital for treatment, according to Six Flags spokeswoman Kristin Siebeneicher.

Kingda Ka is 45 stories high and its trains reach speeds as high as 128 miles per hour, according to Great Adventure's website.

The collision happened about 4:45 p.m. on the train's return to the station near a hill in the track, Siebeneicher wrote in an e-mail Thursday.

[Scootaloo]

1. First Fabio, now this kid

The birds have obviously declared war on our amusement parks.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Poor bird!

[MADem]

3. Didn't that happen to whassisface, the Italian romance novel model with the hair?

Fabio...that's the guy!

[William769]

4. I live for roller coasters!

It's a chance I'm willing to take.

[MuseRider]

8. Oh god me too!

We have been trying to plan a roller coaster trip with our kids but now my husband needs heart surgery. We are hoping after he recovers they will let him do that. A bird in the face? A chance I am also willing to take!

[William769]

9. Believe it or not one of the best coasters I have been on was a Dollywood!

I have been to many amusement parks, but this coaster is one of my favorites!


I wish your husband the best with his surgery & hope it does not slow him down.

[MuseRider]

10. Cool!

Thanks, he should be fine although it is rather extensive surgery. He is in great shape and still fairly young, 64. We are getting old enough that we need to get this done.

We really want to get to Cedar Point.

Really loved The Hulk at Universal Studios. NOT Disney World!

EDIT to correct location of The Hulk, thank you William

[William769]

11. Cedar Point, oh the memories!

It's been awhile, but that was the second Park I was ever at. Boblo Island being the first (which is no longer ).

[tridim]

5. I really hope they don't start requiring face-shields.

The risk of injury is minuscule.

[RebelOne]

6. Might be a good idea. n/t

[slampoet]

13. Not a good idea considering that upchucking is common this creates a choking hazard

Also in the 140 year history of the amusement park I worked in this never happened once.

[longship]

7. Do you mean that Hitchcock had it right?

Give those birds a drop kick. ... Any monkey would give a bird a beak flip.

Perry DeAngelis (1963-2007), a skeptic and curmudgeon of some note.

Monkeys over birds!


For details, you'd have to pay attention to TheSkeptics Guide to the Universe, a science and skepticism podcast of some note.

Sköl, fellow skeptics.

[LiberalFighter]

12. How many incidents have birds been involved with roller coasters?

Probably more than actual voter fraud.