Skyhawk Accident Cedar Point 7/26/14

[TTD03]

Unfortunately, Skyhawk is giving Cedar Point troubles again. According to news and pictures on Facebook, a cable has snapped on Skyhawk, tonight around 10:30 PM causing major damage to the ride and injuries to riders. In addition, it has been reported that a man may have been hit in the face with a piece of wood surrounding the ride and part of the wood surrounding the ride has been completely broken off. Riders injuries have not all been identified but at least one woman has been taken off in an Ambulance. In addition, it has also been said by an employee that a boy's leg has been broken because of the accident. The whole area has been cleared out and EMT's/Police officers are on the scene.

It's really unfortunate as this ride has been giving Cedar Point troubles since the start of the 2013 season. With it's 2nd cable snap in 2 seasons, and now with what may be serious injuries, is Skyhawk done at Cedar Point? Could we see it removed by next season? Only time will tell.

We will keep this topic updated with more information as it becomes available.

We would like to thank Kevin Gregg of Theme Park Maniacs for being the first to notify the world of this terrible news and we would like to thank him for the following pictures...

Photo Credit to Kevin Gregg

This photo shows riders stranded on Skyhawk waiting for help.

Photo Credit to Kevin Gregg

This photo shows a more up-close view of riders Stranded on Skyhawk waiting for help.

Photo Credit to Kevin Gregg

This photo shows part of the wooden fence that surrounds the ride that was broken due to the accident.

Update: Here's a video of the aftermath, note, there is some language in this video. Thanks to Kevin Gregg for the video.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh3omSd0aXg&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

Update: Photo of girl who was injured, credit to Kevin Gregg

Photo Credit to Kevin Gregg

[Coasterkidmwm]

Perhaps EMT's took down the fence to get to the ride. K thnx bai

[TTD03]

We've heard that something to do with the cable snap caused something to break the fence, Although I suppose it could have been EMT to get to the ride.

[Coasterkidmwm]

I'm still in shock something that isn't Intamin managed to break hardcore.

^ If it was an intamin it would have exploded

^If it was an intamin, the ride would have landed in water, and the riders would have drowned.
Also, in this situation, the ride is DONE!

At least no one got any feet cut off.

This blows, only flatride I ever try to get on when I'm there. It's probably done though.

SkyHawk kinda sucks. Has the shortest cycle of any Screamin' Swing I've been on (only one full height swing in each direction), the load time is longer than the ride, no view of anything really, seats are uncomfortable (especially just sitting there waiting), and MaxAir does a better airtime job and was there first. Swingshot in Kennywood is a much better and more fun ride even though its a smaller version.

If I had my choice of replacement rides... Zierer Star Shape all the way!

What would you guys fit into that space?

[Coasterkidmwm]

Eh MaxAir is a much better ride. I doubt they'll replace it anyways.

LuckyK wrote:

Swingshot in Kennywood is a much better and more fun ride even though its a smaller version.

I agree, despite the smaller height it has a much longer run with 2-3 full height swings!

A Zierer Star Shape would also be a nice addition to the park

Did this happen after the rain, because the floor seems wet in a few photos? Such weather might have caused the cable to go wrong. Is the snapped part visible?

[TTD03]

I heard the weather was not pleasant, which could have been part of it, but I would hope not.
Yea I can agree this ride is done for.

The cables aren't exposed except a little bit at the top. In the ticker feed if you look near where the arms are connected you see yellow disks, the operationg cables are threaded through the towers and around those disks and back in. Unless it was support lines from the arms to the seats it was probably this cable that broke again. I wonder if the stress on the cables is the reason the ride cycle is so much shorter than others. One of the main reasons I wouldn't be sad to see it leave. Zierer Star Shape please!

I'll be there Thursday, maybe I can snap a shot of which cable is missing if nobody can get there before me

Booooooom, another one bites the dust

My husband and I were on this ride like 10 minutes before this happened. The weather at that time wasn't bad. It had only rained very lightly about 30 minutes before we got on so weather (at least from that night) had nothing to do with this incident.
Its a scary thought though just knowing it could have been us on there when that happened.
I'm glad no one had gotten more injured, it could have been ALOT worse.
Even though it is a fun ride I hope they close it down and end this ride all together. especially since they aren't going to do an official investigation on it since no one was admitted over night to a hospital because of it.

[TTD03]

Update: Photo of girl who was injured, credit to Kevin Gregg

This is the second S&S failure for CP. Remember when their version of a Slingshot like... caved in a few years ago? I guess 4d coasters are mega not happening. Anyone know if other Screamin' Swings are shut down because of this?

[mkingy]

Rush @ Thorpe Park is running but then again it is a tiny version of the ride...

the same swing at Valleyfair had a fire a few years back.

[TheArchitect]

@Mkingy, forgetting about all the issues that Rush has had over the years?
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcSAoHLopgY[/youtube]

[mkingy]

TheArchitect wrote:

@Mkingy, forgetting about all the issues that Rush has had over the years?

I was answering:

LuckyK wrote:

Anyone know if other Screamin' Swings are shut down because of this?

So there was no need to remember such issues.

GerstlCrazy has informed me that on his last two or three visits to Valleyfair in the last two or three days, Xtreme Swing has been closed.

[TTD03]

Yea I bet they are all closed for precautionary reasons.

[TheArchitect]

mkingy wrote:

I was answering:

LuckyK wrote:

Anyone know if other Screamin' Swings are shut down because of this?

So there was no need to remember such issues.

Ah, my bad.