Board Hits Girl On Adventureland (Iowa) coaster

[GADVwow]

You will want to see the picture, too.

Be warned it is quite graphic, sigh.

http://tinyurl.com/pxfod

By MEGHAN V. MALLOY
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


July 29, 2006



The last thing Mackenzie Jennings remembers from her ride on the Tornado
roller coaster at Adventureland Park was her mother telling her to open her
eyes.

"I opened them, and then closed them again," she said Friday.

The next thing Mackenzie could recall was sitting on the ground next to her
mother and being in a lot of pain.

A loose board that park officials said was left behind after a maintenance
check by park inspectors had fallen onto the car and struck the 11-year-old
Williamsburg girl in the head. Two other people received minor injuries.

"I didn't even think it had hit her at first, because things aren't supposed
to hit people," said Kathie Hooper, Mackenzie's mother. "I looked at her
head-on, and I knew something was wrong."

Mackenzie, a soft-spoken girl with long, brown hair on one side of her head
and a long row of stitches on the other, was injured on the Tornado roller
coaster at the Altoona park on July 22. She underwent surgery at Mercy
Medical Center in Des Moines to remove a blood clot and reduce swelling in
her head.

"I don't feel any pain anymore because of the doctor," Mackenzie said. "He
helped me."

Mackenzie, who said she used to like roller coasters, had ridden on the
Tornado a few years prior on an outing with her father, Wayne Jennings of
Des Moines.

Hooper said although the incident was an accident, it "could've been
prevented."

"Am I angry? Well, as a parent, yes, I am. I think we all are," Hooper said
Friday.

After the accident, an Adventureland guest who had been standing in line ran
to assist Mackenzie, Hooper said. She was a registered nurse and stayed with
the child until Adventureland transported her to Mercy, Hooper said. Neither
Altoona police nor an ambulance were called to the amusement park.

Kim Baer, an attorney for the family, said her clients filed a claim with
Adventureland's insurance company Friday. Baer added further legal action
would possibly be considered only after Mackenzie has recovered more fully.

Hooper anticipates her daughter will be released from the hospital within
the next few days, although doctors have not given them a specific date.

Bill Fisher, director of marketing for Adventureland, said the park's
insurance company will continue to meet with the family and decide the
appropriate action to take down the road.

"We are very happy to hear she's doing better, and our best wishes go to
Mackenzie and her family," Fisher said Friday.

[Bubba Z]

The picture says it all, at first I wasn't expecting it to be that bad. But ouch !!   

In other news ..........
Looks like Twist and shout is up to it's old habits by tossing a rider at  magic springs.

[PcMan]

WOW 
That is one big cut
Surprised she's alive