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Darwin Awards
2007 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
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Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Dead Woman Switch

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

When Rye Playland in White Plains NY, experienced a guest fatality on the 'Mind Scambler' in 2004, Part of the problem was a high seatback that makes it impossible for the operator to see all the riders at on time. The owners installed an emergency 'killswitch' for a newly assigned second ride operator to use form a second vantage point. Well nothing is foolproof because the fools outwit anything designed for their protection.

When a second fatality occured they were surprised. Even more surprising the learned the person killed was the operator of the killswitch. Intially blame fell on the 1st operator who started the ride. However witnesses revealed the second operator was not caught when the ride started unexpectedly. Instead on being at her post watching riders, the 21 year-old Gabriella Garin was intentionally on the ride as a rider at first kneeling (then standing), on the seat, unbelted, and yelling for the (other) operator to start the ride.

Almost predictably, Ms. Garin fell from the ride and because the 2nd operator (herself) was not at their post.

From the AP wire, July 2nd 2007

Submitted on 07/03/2007

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AMUSEMENT_PARK_ACCIDENT?SITE=CTDAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFA

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

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James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Interesting! When I first heard about this (Rye Playland is about 20 miles NE of Queens, NYC, so this was local news for me), I assumed some hapless tourist got killed and felt very sad for her...but apparently, we have a veteran OPERATOR who not only was shirking her duties and thus endangering others, but obviously ignored ALL safety precautions! The other operator may have played an enabling role, but the victim was old enough (AND presumably experienced enough) to know better. I'll go with a full DA here!


Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I couldn't get the provided URL to work, so here's a different one: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3339864 Since this appears to be a ride operator who sounds like she was goofing off rather than doing her job I'll go DA here as well.


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