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Employee hit by roller coaster at Kagawa theme park

8 Comments

A 71-year-old employee at a theme park is in a serious condition after he was hit by a roller coaster on Friday.

According to police, the accident occurred at around 10:40 a.m. at the New Reoma World theme park in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture. TBS reported that the employee, Kazuyuki Itoba, had been trimming some shrubbery beneath the track when suddenly he was struck in the head by a roller coaster traveling above him. He was knocked unconscious and remained in a serious condition on Saturday.

Park officials said several workers started trimming hedges at around 7 a.m., but none of them had been wearing helmets.

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8 Comments
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Mark, why not just cut the hedges before the park opens?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's even easier than that, Mark_McCracken... just put up a fence anywhere that a standing person could be struck by any part of a roller coaster or any other ride, and pour concrete on the ground inside the fence so there's no tending to be done. Problem solved.

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This type of accident is 100% preventable. Create a lock out box to the roller coaster's power supply. Give all maintenance personnel individual locks with their names on them. Force everyone to lock the box before they enter the dangerous area. It's impossible for someone to turn on the power until each maintenance member has returned and removed his/her individual lock.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Kazuyuki Itoba, had been trimming some shrubbery beneath the track when suddenly he was struck in the head by a roller coaster traveling above him"

He actually poked his head up through the track when the roller coaster was coming? I hope he recovers, then finally retires.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Sad. Hope he recovers soon.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

White wash by the park, they weren't wearing helmets, that says it all what they are thinking

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This is quite disturbing and sad. :( I don't think they shouldn't let the maintenance people to work under or even around the moving attractions. They could do it before the opening time or after they close, right?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

OMG Reoma World now is part of Marugame city. Poor safety instructions. I know sometimes it is mendokusai and all but that is when the employer has to make sure all employees follow safety rules. At 71 he will need more time than usual to recover but hopefully he will be good as new.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

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