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In defending the city against a lawsuit brought by the family of a San Francisco musician who died after riding the Cyclone last year, a city attorney is insisting that the roller coaster's potentially fatal dangers are "obvious." While riding the Cyclone on his birthday in July 2007, 53-year-old Keith Shirasawa fractured three neck vertebrae and died four days later after complications from surgery. In the lawsuit, his family contends that the Parks Department is at fault for not regularly inspecting the landmark ride. But city attorney Cynthia Goldman argues that "any and all risks, hazards, defects and dangers to the extent alleged are of an open, obvious, apparent and inherent nature known and should have been known to [Shirasawa]," according to court papers obtained by the Daily News. Shirasawa family attorneys blame the injury on a malfunction that made the Cyclone drop too fast, and an "antiquated" single position lap bar.
Dead Cyclone Rider Should Have Known Risks, City Says
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Wow, is the Cyclone also run by the MTA?
I always love when lawyers (or anyone else) says that things are "obvious", when it's far from the case.
If it was so obvious, there wouldn't need to be a fucking trial, eh?
Oh Please! Did they miss the GIANT warnings posted all over the cyclone?? He shouldn't have gotten on it if there were any doubts, that ride is an amazing, painful & thrilling delight! If there were engineering issues i don't think they'd be able to keep it
#2, how many times does one have to be hit in the head with a hammer before they understand that it's not good for them? Answer: none. It's obvious!
Not too long ago the walk from the train to the Cyclone was more dangerous than the ride.
I'm sorry, but unless the man was standing up during the ride and hit his head against a wooden pylon like what happens in Looney Toons, the City's explanation is ridiculous. They are liable for the man's death if the ride did indeed malfunction.
This is probably just a little dance the lawyers do before they work out a settlement.
This is b.s. I was injured on that same roller coaster that same month and have been dealing with a neck injury ever since. Of course you understand the "risks" when you climb aboard a roller coaster, but if just taking a ride is likely kill you or give you a serious injury--and especially if the roller coaster is malfunctioning (which it WAS)--it shouldn't be in operation. Period.
one word: settle,settle,settle
That's what makes the Cyclone such a thrilling ride--the prospect of REALLY getting injured on it!
Yes, they didn't have a "danger 'antiquated' single position lap bar" warning sign posted...
Known the risks!!?? A risk of an amusement park ride is PERMANENT NECK DAMAGE? Are we on Planet Dipshit?? How is that a normal result of a roller coaster ride?
I feel for the family. That said, roller coasters do have their Darwinian side...
Yeah, they'll probably claim she had a pre-existing condition that made her prone to injury too. Considering he died later on in the hospital, I would say that the city itself will probably settle to the tune of around 1.2 mil.
Yes, his neck injury was a result of the ride, but technically, wasn't it the surgery that killed him?
there are many very large signs posted at the ride with warnings, but they seemed to all be in reference to heart conditions,pregnancy and such. nothing about neck or spinal infrations that may occur. i personally have gotten injured on the ride and think it should either be shut down or fixed. bottom line is there are too many stories of people getting hurt on the ride for nothing to be done.