Posted July 17, 2008, 12:47P |
Contributed by Headchopper
(Originally posted Monday, July 14, 2008 3:47 PM EDT) A ride operator was on life support after being struck by a roller coaster last night in Seaside Heights. The accident happened at the Star Jet ride at the Casino Pier. The employee, Stanislav Nikolaev Draganev, 21, hails from Tleven, Bulgaria, and was in the United States on a work visa. He was trying to retrieve a lost hat.
Read more from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
UPDATE: Jersey Shore University Medical Center confirmed today that the 21-year-old Bulgarian exchange student critically injured Sunday evening by a boardwalk roller-coaster car had died.
Read more from Asbusry Park Press.
Related parks:
Casino Pier
Condolences to his family, friends, and co-workers.
The only good that COULD come out of all this - increased emphasis on safety procedures and proper training.
Sounds like they need to make "Operator Ed" movies (not unlike Driver's Ed movies) to get ride operators to take things seriously. Then again, I recall safety being pounded into our heads when I was a ride op. No need for a movie, we had plenty of imagination.