11-year-old DIES after a raft overturned on a water ride at an Iowa amusement park
An 11-year-old died and another child is in critical condition after a raft overturned on a water ride at an Iowa amusement park.
Michael Jaramillo, 11, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, the Altoona Police Department announced on Monday, and another remains in critical condition.
Two others who were on the Raging River ride at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa – outside of Des Moines – on Saturday night suffered minor injuries, the police department tweeted, after a raft carrying six people flipped over.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jaramillo family as they navigate the heartbreaking loss of their child,’ the police department said in a statement.
A raft carrying six people flipped over on the Raging River ride (pictured) at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa on Saturday, injuring four people – one of whom later died from their injuries
Fire officials said the ride is located far from the park’s entrance, making it difficult for them to respond to the scene. Adventureland Park is pictured here
Initially, four passengers were sent to the hospital – three of whom were critical, according to the Des Moines Register, but on Sunday, theme park officials released a statement saying one had died.
‘Adventureland is saddened to learn of the passing of one guest involved in the Raging River accident on the evening of 7/3/21,’ officials posted on Facebook Sunday night.
‘This investigation is ongoing and the ride remains closed,’ the statement continued.
‘Adventureland is working closely with both the state and local authorities, and would like to thank them again for their efforts.
‘At this time, we ask for your thoughts and prayers for the guest and their family, as well as for our team members who were onsite.’
The other victims’ names have not been released.
Park officials updated the public about the condition of the victims on Facebook and said the ride had been inspected just one day before the incident
First responders and witnesses tried to help free the passengers and began
Park officials said fire and police officials responded immediately to the call, but the ride, which is described on the amusement park’s website as ‘a great way to cool off with the whole family,’ is far from the park’s entrance, making it difficult for first responders to get to the scene.
‘The farthest units I guess walked 200 – 300 yards, maybe,’ Lance Rouston, of the Altoona Fire Department told KCCI. ‘The closest [walked] maybe about a hundred.
‘That’s the closest we could actually get an apparatus there, and they would have to walk the rest of the way and carry their equipment and so forth back.’
The ride, which simulates white water rafting, was reportedly inspected on Friday – just one day before the incident – and was found to be in ‘good working order,’ park officials wrote in a statement, but it will remain closed for a more thorough inspection.
In 2016, Steve Booher, 68, died from injuries he sustained while trying to get passengers off the ride. He fell on the conveyer belt and suffered a fractured skull and a minor brain injury
Five years ago, an employee at the park who was just six days on the job, died from injuries sustained while trying to help passengers off the rafts.
Steve Booher, 68, reportedly fell on the conveyer belt and suffered a fractured skull, along with a brain injury.
He died four days later, and the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the theme park $4,500 – the most it could assess for the violation.
