The reality here that "investigative" stories from newsy organizations too scared to describe a tragedy in detail for their readers don't mean much and are pretty snoozy for readers with even shorter attention spans in the digital era . . .
Like all things, people forget . . .
We'll probably bit a bit more fired up about this on Monday when we break NEW DEETS on the story but for now here's a collection of some of the better reporting and opinion than what Dead Tree Media is enforcing upon the rest of Kansas City.
Checkit:
The Blaze: After 10-Year-Old's Death on 'World's Largest' Waterslide, a Look at States' Safety Regulations
Inquisitr: Did Kansas City Government Make Verruckt Waterside Less Safe By Requiring Safety Netting?
Witnessing Tragedy: Brother Of Boy Decapitated On Kansas Waterslide Saw Accident After Pair Were Separated At Last Moment Due To Raft Weight
JoCo Post: Tracy Calls For Water Slide shut Down, Too
TKC Confirmation: Online petition seeks closure of Kansas waterslide
Developing . . .
Click click click goes the mousy, ding ding ding goes the bell
ReplyDeleteMore decapitation.
ReplyDeleteJust a little more mileage out of this story.
And here you are ...."clicking" away.
ReplyDeleteBut wait! No one ELSE should.
We should have never heard the details of this poor boy's death.
ReplyDeleteThe headline should have been "the Good Lord sought fit to take local boy from waterslide" and that would have been enough.
Anything else is just meddling and it don't do nobody no good no how.
this was a tragic accident -- but -- it's a thrilling ride! -- I've ridden it...and just the strap failed --(no--the raft didn't fly off)
ReplyDeleteabsolutely improve the safety -- get some good lock-down safety straps -- get top-notch inspections- settle with the victims--shut it down until next summer to get it right.
but --then -- let others enjoy the exhilarating ride.
keep Verruckt open!
The beaches of Amity are safe!!!
DeleteI want to know what states are doing about texting and driving which is now a bigger cause of accident deaths than all drunks from coast to coast. Why are none of these blogger pussies demanding action on issues that require their personal accountability or inconvenience? Its only wrong when it fits YOUR agendas and doesnt require YOU to be responsible?
ReplyDeleteYeah really, this is nothing to lose your head over..
ReplyDeleteRed headed Opie aka Tracy is turning into the real media whore that she has always been but returning from where ever. Her ole man must have dumped her ass hence all this spare time to puke on us with her possibly dope infused thoughts. She lives in JoCo close to some shitty apartments in an old development that is slowly turning into the place you don't want to live in. But sure as Mayor James will fuck something up this week, Opie will be along saying and bragging about what all she has failed in while trying to make you think she really cares.
ReplyDelete70mph into a net, yeah that's what I call safe.
ReplyDeleteDon't knock it until you've tried it.
ReplyDelete9:03/aka Miss Auntie:
ReplyDeleteI note that you believe in an Old Testament view of God. Wrathful, angry, pciking people off like a sniper. Now THAT would be meddling. Hope you start reading the New Testament. A loving God doesn't "take" people, snatching them like aliens invading the Earth.
^^^^^^^^^Shut up Opie
ReplyDelete9:15,
ReplyDeletewe are still waiting for the details--on whether the raft went airborne at least partially--in addition to the likely failure of the velcro straps. What caused the facial injuries to the two women riders, including the broken jaw?
Did she also hit the DEATHTRAP net and steel hoops, before the raft settled back into its low, narrow channel? Or was it contact with Caleb's flying body? Or was it contact with the raft? This all needs engineering studies. The two survivors may never recall the high speed details.
I believe it has been confirmed that both women were seated in the BACK of the raft. Improperly, according to modern physics, but not improper due to Schlitterban's complete lack of published seating regulations. That action guaranteed that the nose of the raft was lightest and most prone to dysfunction of all possibilities.
Did the seating order create MORE pressure on the Velcro straps to fail, when the raft tried to go airborne?
Again, this needs engineering studies. And not by the keystone cop gang at the City of KCK.
Immediately following the Hyatt collapse, the KC STAR hired an independent structural engineer, Wayne Lischka. The next day, he was barely able to investigate the site before the Hyatt destroyed the evidence. Lischka was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his research.
Now the STAR is financially challenged, and short of reporters, altho I have every confidence in Steve Vockrodt.
So will the STAR hire Wayne Lischka again? He still lives here. They should!
I said shut up Opie, and go clean the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteWhat difference does it make. No one at this blog has standing in anything related to this kid's demise. Other than being curious and nosey no one here is a share holder in what happened. If you don't want your kid riding a slide then kick your kid in the arse and tell him to stay off the damn thing. Check out what your children do and stop thinking it is someone else who is responsible for your crappy assed decisions.
ReplyDeleteI can guarantee that no one here, no matter how significant they would like to make themselves, is going to have shit to say about whether that slide stays in that park or not. It doesn't matter what you like. They will do some tweeking, runs some adds and next season you will hear about the new this and new that and the slide will be right back up and running. If the county forces the issue the park will leave, your rug rats can go back to swimming in the pond and it will be another 30 years before Kansas gets an amusement part or water park. These people did not open for business because they were a charity. Although the death is tragic so are hundreds of injuries and deaths in these theme parks all over America. They all are not going to shut down over it. That is reality.
good arguments from both JoCo and Shitty
ReplyDeleteif investigation concludes that whole raft flew off the ramp -- shut it down
if a strap fail was the only fault -- that can be remedied -and re-open once they get it right.
First, R.I.P. Caleb.
ReplyDeleteSlaughterbarn's parking lot was fully packed yesterday as I passed midday going to the Legends. I saw from across State Avenue that the waterpark lot was still full following St. Pat's Saturday mass, as was Laffoon's Steakhouse lot a block east. It's hoped the Verruckt mayhem gets remedied soon. KCK needs the jobs, like loads of other cities.
I hope Schlitterbahn sues the hell out of Tracy Thomas for all her non-supporting hate comments about the slide. How about this Tracy, you have no dog in this fight so why not let the real experts handle the investigation and you crawl back into what ever hole it was that you crawled out of. The voters of Shawnee ran your butt out of office in that town when they quickly realized that you were a walnut tree short of even being able to be even called a nut job.
ReplyDeleteThe slide isn't going anywhere there is to much money at stake here and you don't live by it so your thoughts are rather moot. Why don't you go camp out at Kansas City Mo City Hall screaming about deaths if they bother you so bad. The slide is a bigger cash cow than the street car and is going to be open come spring with long lines of people waiting to ride it.
Inflatable slides and bounce houses every where kill and hurt people but not seen one damn thing said about shutting those down. Six Flags Over Texas Roaring Rapids ride had a death on it in 1999 but today is still in operation after having served millions of rides.
So Tracy go find another dead horse to beat up on because you're just pissing folks off with all your ignorant unsupported rants.
It's estimated that 335 million people a year go to an amusement park of some sort. On avg only 2.5 of those visitors die from something that goes wrong on a ride. For the past 14 years 16.7 people per 100.000 are murdered in Kansas City.
So see you stupid Dingbat, you have a huge chance of being murdered in Kansas City over ever being killed on an amusement ride.
Get your priorities straight you stupid bitch!
Could you clarify your real feelings on this issue?
ReplyDeleteHey 3:45:
ReplyDeleteYou sure have alot of stats--are you a Schlitterbahn defense attorney? Or perhaps one of the five geniusses from the Dot who ordered them to install the DeathNet?? And Schlitterbahn was so greedy and behind schedule that instead of challenging it, based on physics and engineering studies, they just did it...
Ya know, 3:45, I just logged back on--I've been busy cleaning the kitchen since 12:06 Barney Fife ordered me to!!!
I will be weighing in on this disaster. To prevent repeats. I was the assistant to the field producer at 20/20 regarding the Hyatt story, 35 years ago, which won an Emmy. What are YOUR credentials?
Sorry if you and your Paleolithic homies got gipped out of a few thrills. The Royals are losers. Life is tough for you, BooBoo. Waaaaa. If you had a season pass at Schlitterbahn, maybe you should go get a refund.
Tracy, if you show them boobies, I will take you more seriously.
ReplyDeleteAs for the kid. It really was a horrible tragedy but I would rather know the details instead of just trusting the newspaper. TV has provided better coverage in this instance.
And we're back...
ReplyDeleteGrimy little news websites are determined to shove this horrific accident down our throats and won't sleep nights until everyone is forced to read in part the details or watch graphic footage. Even the once respectable news sources are rabid with indecent enthusiasm. I'm surprised Yahoo hasn't developed the recorded carnage into a screensaver.
ReplyDeleteIts strange how those who have their personal agendas can use this medium on the death of a child. As an investigator myself, I know that the facts will come out and that corrective actions, if warranted, will be implemented. For now, say a prayer for the little angel that went to heaven.
ReplyDelete