dragonwyck
Junior Member
Carnival of Souls--1962
Posts: 18
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Post by dragonwyck on May 26, 2008 22:29:31 GMT -5
Hi everyone, This question is directed at Brandon or anyone who has worked the HH ride in the past. Have there ever been any car mishaps or accidents or emergencies when riders were in them? I just wonder what sort of things have gone wrong over the years and what was done to solve or fix it. I think it would be pretty scary to be stuck in a car on the hill (going down) in the latter part of the ride, or for the car to take off without brakes down that same hill. Also Brandon, are you at Ocean City all summer? Working at the HH? If so, can I stop by and say hello to you on my vacation in August?
Debbi in Pittsburgh
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Post by Brandon on May 27, 2008 9:30:57 GMT -5
Debbi,
The biggest problem a car can have is either a flat tire or transformer/motor malfunction. If a tire goes flat, the car will become motionless and cause the breaker to blow. On the flip side, if a wire comes loose on the car’s underbody, it may cause the transformer to stop providing current to the motor, which will also cause it to stop.
The fact that a car stops is usually not an issue – it’s the behavior of the riders that makes the ride unsafe.
If riders stay in a stopped car until help arrives (within seconds, usually), then everyone is safe. But, when you have a rider who is not familiar with the ride’s layout get out of a stopped car and wonder through the dark rooms of the ride, it becomes unsafe as well as a liability.
When I worked there in 2002, I remember walking through the ride doing my rounds and stumbling upon two broken down cars at Bat Hill. To my surprise, neither one of the cars had people in them, because they had exited the car and began walking. I took a glance up the Mine Shaft and saw noone, so I called on the radio right away for assistance and asked the ride operator to turn of the track and turn on the houselights, hoping that if the customers were somewhere in the ride, the lights would help them.
I then proceeded to run through the ride to find them, and they happened to be up in the wave room.
Because of the amount of employees in the park, response time is usually instantaneous for any problem. But, the actions of the customers is what can cause big headaches.
Also, in terms of a real emergency situation, and example would be a customer getting out of a moving car trying to be stupid and vandalize property. Scott encounters people like this all summer long.
Last year, a rider tore a piece of wall off in the Barrel Room, and the car actually collided with the piece of sheet rock. Scott stumbled upon the situation, and the man began to pick a fight with Scott. Scott gave an all-call on the radio, and nearly 10 park employees plus two security guards were up in the barrel room within 30 seconds. The outnumbering of the park employees vs the ahole customer immediately resolves the situation, and the security guard handcuffed them an and escorted him out the side exit.
A lot can go on in the ride because of its grandeur, but usually, Scott gets the backup and help he needs.
I haven’t worked in the Haunted House since 2002, but be sure to buzz me an email when your going. I may be down for the weekend…
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alan
HH Rookie
Posts: 7
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Post by alan on Jul 9, 2008 22:56:38 GMT -5
What happened to the barrel room guy?
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Post by Brandon on Jul 10, 2008 6:47:05 GMT -5
He was escorted to the Ocean City police dept in hand cuffs
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Post by 14rollipie on Jul 10, 2008 7:52:03 GMT -5
how could you get a lights on tour of the hh
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