08/19/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Wisconsin Dells, WI—A criminal complaint was filed Tuesday, August 17, 2010, after a horrific amusement park accident left a young girl with severe injuries. The complaint charged a theme park employee in connection with the injurious incident, according to information provided by the Associated Press.
Reports stated 12-year-old Teagan Marti was visiting Wisconsin Dells-based Extreme World when she made the decision to experience a truly extreme ride, the Terminal Velocity. Terminal Velocity is a freefall ride that allows thrill-seekers to dive 160 feet into a net and air bags.
Lake Denton resident Charles A. Carnell was the dive master on the Terminal Velocity on July 30. Carnell and Marti, along with two others, made their way up the ride in a cage. Carnell alleged that when the cage came to a stop in its ascent for a second time, he was supposed to extend his arms as a means of signaling all-clear to employees on the ground.
The ground workers were then supposed to signal that the air bags were ready for the first rider to freefall. However, Carnell failed to look down for the ground workers’ signal. Carnell contended he believed the air bags were inflated upon looking through the cage’s trap door.
He subsequently went on to unfasten Marti’s safety restraint, causing her to fall 100 feet to the ground. Given that the airbags were not inflated and safety nets were off the ground, Marti suffered extensive injuries, including swelling in her brain and several spinal cord injuries. It was not specified if Marti suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) specifically.
Carnell alleged that for reasons he could not explain, he “totally blanked out” prior to the terrific freefall accident. Prosecutors have charged the Extreme World worker with one count of first-degree-reckless injury. If he is found guilty, he could face up to 25 years in prison for the felony.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan– Legal News for Wisconsin Personal Injury Lawyers.
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