If roller coasters freak you out, then this story will definitely give you nightmares.  Sergeant James Hackemer, 29, an Iraq War veteran who lost both of his legs in an IED attack, died after being flung from a roller coaster at 50 mph.  It happened on the Ride of Steel coaster at Darien Lake Theme Park in Syracuse, NY.  He was at the park for a day of fun with his whole family, but no one could have predicted the tragedy that would occur.

Hackemer was on the ride with his nephew, Ashton, when the horrible accident played out.  He was seated in the very first row when he was flung from the ride.  Ironically, the brave soldier had technically died twice as a result of his war injuries, only to return home and meet his tragic fate after a 3 year long recovery process at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

His heart-broken mother told a local news outlet:

“It’s going to help a little bit that he was happy.  We shouldn’t have had him for these last three years and four months.  After he was hit by the IED, he died once in the field and once on the operating table.  He was assisted on to the ride. He was doing what he wanted to do.”

The theme park claims to have no liability in the incident, as the ride was working properly and Hackemer was buckled in.  But his having been flung from the ride would indicate that he was not properly restrained.  Furthermore, this is not the first incident to occur on the Ride of Steel.  Another man fell from the ride previously, however, he was lucky enough to survive.  Witnesses of Hackemer’s accident also pointed out that the theme park employees appeared unconcerned about what had just happened.  Others remarked that the ride’s restraints seemed very unsafe.

 

 

In recent news, another veteran amputee was turned away from riding a roller coaster at Six Flags.  He was not given a refund from the theme park and left pretty perturbed, but maybe it was for the best, as he is still alive today.

Does this story change your perception on the safety of theme park rides?  Will you be more careful about the ones you choose to partake in, or is this a super rare occurrence that we shouldn’t be too worried about?  Let us know your opinion in the comments section below!

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CLARK KENT @ AMERICAS FREEDOM FIGHTERS

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