Amusement Park Ride Where Boy Was Killed Had Previous Incidents

Norridge, ILThe amusement park accident that claimed the life of a three-year-old boy earlier this month has raised questions about the particular ride on which the accident took place, given that the state of Illinois has records of two previous injuries associated with that particular amusement—but no record of a third.

The Chicago Tribune reported on April 5th that in 2006 a woman reported that her daughter had struck her eye while walking from the ride. In another incident two years later, the 'Python Pit' rollercoaster had stopped suddenly and without warning. One rider during the 2008 incident suffered a bumped head.

A third incident that same year resulted in an injury to an eight-year-old girl. An attorney representing the family of the child said that the girl suffered a broken wrist in the incident.

The attorney, who filed a lawsuit against the Go Bananas amusement park in Norridge, Illinois earlier this year, questioned the safety of the ride.

It was on Saturday, April 3rd of this year that the latest rollercoaster accident involving this particular amusement took place. Jayson Dansby was riding the 'Python Pit' with his twin brother when he managed to free himself from the safety bar and stood up while the ride was still moving. The motion caused the lad to fall backwards into the 'join' between two cars, where he was crushed before falling several feet to the ground. He died in hospital from severe head injuries.

Jayson's twin brother was also on the ride when the accident happened, and the boys' family witnessed the horrific theme park accident from the ground.

The ride, amongst five others at the park, was described as having passed annual inspections, and the operators had obtained the proper permits from the Illinois Department of Labor December 15th of last year. It was also reported that the deceased boy had qualified to board the ride according to the mandated height restrictions.

Nonetheless, investigators are trying to figure out how the boy defeated the restraining bar.

So far, local police and the Medical Examiner for Cook County have ruled the boy's death as an accident. However, the investigation into the amusement park death is ongoing. The Tribune noted that the Department of Labor for the State of Illinois, which serves as regulator to amusement parks, requires owners and operators of amusement parks to report injuries. However, the department had no record of the 2008 incident that resulted in a rider breaking her wrist.