Amusement Park Accident - "Space Journey"
October 1, 2010 - A horrible amusement park accident that killed six people and injured 10 others in China was the result of a design defect according to a report by the administrative bureau of work safety of the Yantian District of Shenzhen. The accident occurred on June 29, 2010 at the Overseas Chinese Town East resort in Shenzen, Guangdong Province. The ride involved was called "Space Journey." It was designed in China and manufactured by Jiuhua Amusement Rides Manufacturing Co. Ltd in Beijing. The ride, which simulates the feel of a rocket launch, spun wildly out-of-control when a screw bolt snapped between the supporting system of the simulator and the piston rod. The ride operated by lifting and spinning 11 passenger cabins each carrying four individuals. In the accident, one cabin collided with three others as it fell to the ground. According to reports, the design made it difficult to check and maintain the screw bolt which caused wear and tear on the bolt and led to it breaking. Further, the report found that the danger was noticed during installation of the ride, but no effective measures were undertaken to remove the risk. The ride went into trial operation on May 1, 2009. In March, 2010, it passed its annual safety inspection, a Beijing newspapaer said. The Overseas Chinese Town East amusement park encompasses an area of nine square kilometers. The park is operated by the state-owned OCT Enterprises Co., a company engaged in real estate and hotel development, tourism and electronics manufacturing. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries or wrongful death in an amusement park accident, please call an experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney for a free consultation. We will help you determine whether or not you have a premises liability, products liability and/or some other type of action against the responsible parties.