This is a summary of notable incidents occurring at all independently owned amusement parks, water parks or theme parks internationally. This is not intended as a comprehensive list of all such events, but only those with significant impact on the parks or park operations, or are otherwise significantly newsworthy.
The term incidents refers to major accidents, injuries, deaths and significant crimes. While these incidents are required to be reported to regulatory authorities for investigation, attraction-related incidents usually fall into one of the following categories: Negligence on the part of the park, either by ride operator or maintenance. Caused by negligence on the part of the guest. This can be a refusal to follow specific ride safety instructions, or deliberate intent to break park rules. The result of a guest's known, or unknown, health issues. Act of God or a generic accident (e.g. slipping and falling) that is not a direct result of an action on anyone's part.
Action Park
Alpine Slide On July 8, 1980, a 19-year-old man was killed when his car jumped the track and his head struck a rock. Action Park claimed he was an employee, as a customer death would have to be reported to the state. However, while he previously worked at the ski resort that later became Action Park, he was never employed at Action Park itself.
Kayak Experience On August 1, 1982, a 27-year-old man from Long Island exited his tipped kayak on the Kayak Experience to right it and stepped on a metal grate that was either in contact with or too close to a section of live wiring for underwater fans, causing a severe shock and cardiac arrest. Several of his nearby family members were also injured. He was taken to a hospital in nearby Warwick, New York, where he died of the shock-induced cardiac arrest. The park first disputed that an electric current caused his death, saying there were no burns on his body, but the coroner responded that burns generally do not occur in a water-based electrocution. The ride was drained and closed for the investigation. Accounts differed on the extent of the exposed wiring: the park said it was "just a nick," while others said it was closer to 8 inches (20 cm). The state's Labor Department found that the fan was properly maintained and installed and cleared the park of wrongdoing but also that the current could cause bodily harm under certain circumstances. While the park claimed vindication, it never reopened the ride, saying that people would be afraid to go on it thereafter.Austin, Joanne; "Revisiting Traction ... Er, Action, Park," Weird NJ, October 2005, pages 20–24
Tarzan Swing In 1984, a fatal heart attack suffered by a visitor was unofficially believed to have been triggered by the shock of the cold water in the pool beneath the Tarzan Swing. The water on the ride and in that swimming area was 50–60 °F (10–16 °C), while other water areas were in the 70–80 °F (21–27 °C) range, more typical of swimming pools. The Tarzan Swing and the Cannonball ride in this area were operated by spring water.
Tidal Wave Pool On July 24, 1982, a 15-year-old boy drowned in the Tidal Wave Pool.Water Ride Fatalities 1972–1997 at rideaccidents.com, retrieved January 12, 2006. On August 27, 1984, a 20-year-old from Brooklyn drowned in the Tidal Wave Pool. On July 19, 1987, an 18-year-old from Queens drowned in the Tidal Wave Pool.
Adventuredome
Canyon Blaster
On July 23, 2008, a 12-year-old girl from Union City, California, was found unconscious after the train returned to the loading station at the conclusion of the ride. She was airlifted to University Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed that she died from a heart attack.
El Loco
On March 25, 2019, a woman in her mid-20s was taken to the hospital after sustaining unspecified injuries after being ejected from the ride and falling to the ground. Later reports say that the guest was a double amputee, but it was unclear which limbs this referred to.
Adventureland Park (New York)
Haunted Mansion On August 11, 2007, a 6-year-old boy from Bellmore, New York, got his hand stuck between a moving platform and the sidewall of the attraction. He was rescued by his sister. Though he was not seriously injured, his family filed a $10M lawsuit against the park. On August 29, 2008, a 5-year-old girl suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment after a 10-foot prop of a skeleton riding a bicycle on a tightrope fell on top of her.
Ladybug Coaster On August 30, 2005, an 18-year-old employee from North Babylon, New York, was struck by a roller coaster train while performing maintenance on the ride. He died from his injuries the next day at Nassau University Medical Center.
Top Scan On August 31, 2005, a day after the Ladybug Coaster incident, a 45-year-old mentally disabled woman from Long Island was thrown from the Top Scan ride and crashed into a parked car in the parking lot after her safety harness gave way. She died from her injuries and the ride permanently ceased operations.
Adventure Park at Grants Mill On May 10, 2018, the park management closed the park permanently and had the attractions dismantled, after receiving 49 code violations from city and fire inspections. Most of the violations were related to exposed wiring. The park originally opened on October 5, 2013.
Adventure World
Sky Lift On March 30, 2014, 20 passengers were stuck on the Sky Lift due to a safety malfunction and were evacuated off the ride by firefighters. No injuries were reported. On January 5, 2016, a woman fell 3 metres (9.8 f) from the ride while trying to secure her son into his seat. It was reported that she was being careless and didn't follow the ride operator's instructions before getting on the ride.
The Kraken
On November 18, 2017, a teenage boy broke his tibia when two rafts collided, causing him to be flung towards the exit funnel.
Askari Amusement Park
Discovery On July 15, 2018, a 12-year-old girl was killed and 25 other people were injured when the ride collapsed in mid-air. The park (which officially opened a month before the incident) did not reopen to the public until February 13, 2019, six months after the incident occurred.
Bay Beach Amusement Park
Zippin Pippin
On June 20, 2016, a roller coaster train carrying three people collided with an empty train in the station. The riders suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital. The ride remained closed following an inspection and reopened a week later.
Beech Bend Park
Dragon Coaster On August 16, 2015, the ride derailed after a safety malfunction. There were no injuries reported.
Jet Star On August 30, 1975, a 17-year-old park employee was fatally struck in the head by a moving car while he and some other workers were trying to remove blocks beneath the ride prior to opening. He was taken to Bowling Green-Warren County Hospital and was pronounced dead after arrival.
Jitterbug On July 26, 2015, 12 people suffered injuries when the ride tipped over. They were all taken to a local hospital and later released.
Bell's Amusement Park
Wildcat On April 20, 1997, a malfunction occurred on the ride after a coaster train that was near the top of the lift hill suddenly disengaged, rolled backward, and collided with another train. A 14-year-old boy was killed while six other people suffered injuries.
Belmont Park
Giant Dipper
On December 9, 2006, a maintenance worker fell from the roller coaster. He was tied to a safety wire at the time of the incident. He was taken to the hospital and later released. The ride remained closed for a week.
Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin'
Over The Rainbow On June 9, 2006, a 4-year-old boy was injured after falling from his seat on the ride. His mother wanted to sit next to him, but the seat she wanted to sit on wasn't working properly. As soon as the ride started, the boy felt some jerking movement from his seat and he fell from the ride. The boy's parents sued the park afterward.
Xtreme On July 11, 2010, a 21-year-old woman from Lafayette, Louisiana, fell from the roller coaster. She was taken to the hospital and later died from her injuries. Investigators could not determine whether the ride's restraint system malfunctioned or was improperly fastened. The ride was inspected before opening but remained closed after the accident.
Branson Mountain Adventure Park Runaway Mountain Coaster On October 4, 2018, three people were taken to the emergency room after they suffered minor injuries when two cars collided on the tracks. The attraction was closed at the time for a private event. It reopened the next day after being inspected.
Calaway Park
Theodore Tugboat play area On August 4, 2014, a mother filed a report to the park after her 18-month old daughter suffered second degree burns to her feet while playing at the Theodore Tugboat play area. Removal of shoes was required for the attraction, and due to high temperatures that day the rubber mats, directly exposed to sunlight, became hot enough to cause injury. The child was taken to the park's first aid area and had her feet bandaged. The attraction was closed permanently and removed in December 2014.
Camden Park
Slingshot On May 12, 2018, a park employee was injured when he was pinned under the ride. He was taken to the hospital and received stitches.
Spider On July 23, 2011, three riders suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital after one of the ride's legs malfunctioned and broke apart.
Canobie Lake Park
Guest altercations On June 16, 2014, a family from Sutton, Vermont, attacked several police officers after being told that they were not allowed to bring any weapons or any other harmful devices into the park. Three people were charged with felony riot.
Rocket Man: The Human Cannonball On August 6, 2016, a stuntman who was performing during the show fell 20 feet off a safety net. He was unharmed but was taken to an emergency room for an evaluation.
Yankee Cannonball
On July 27, 2001, five people were injured when two trains collided.
Casino Pier
Crazy Bus On July 5, 2018, a 51-year-old woman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, suffered minor injuries when she fell as she was taking her children off the ride. She was taken to nearby Community Medical Center. The ride was shut down for inspection.
Go-Karts On August 25, 2018, a 21-year-old woman was sent to Jersey Shore University Medical Center after losing consciousness while riding. The go-kart she was driving crashed into a wall of the track, injuring her. The ride was shut down for inspection and later reopened.
Jet Star On June 19, 1994, a worker was reported to be in fair condition at Jersey Shore Medical Center after being hit by a car during a test run. He was lubricating the tracks when another employee, unaware of his presence there, released a test car.
Sky Ride On July 11, 1997, two people were injured when they fell from the Sky Ride after trying to help a 4-year-old boy when his mother exited the ride. On July 7, 2012, a 17 year old girl jumped off her seat from Sky Ride during a thunderstorm, and fell on the beach, suffering multiple bruises.
Star Jet
On July 13, 2008, a 21-year-old park employee from Pleven, Bulgaria died from his injuries at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ after he was struck by a roller coaster train while retrieving a customer's hat from the restricted area of the ride. On October 29, 2012, strong waves and winds from Hurricane Sandy destroyed part of the pier and Star Jet was thrown into the ocean, leading to it being heavily damaged beyond repair, becoming a symbol of the storm's damage.
Castle Park
Saw Mill Plunge