The fact that it was a visitor, not park officials, who spotted this, makes it even more appalling.
That structure could have been minutes from catastrophic failure... and the park didn't even notice the large, visibly widening crack.
@LiberalLibrarian It's amazing, the corporate instinct to cut costs by cutting corners.
Because if the coaster had collapsed and killed dozens of people, they'd be out a lot more than inspections would cost.
@RationalLeft: Yeah, someone's gonna lose their job for that. Maybe more than one someone.
@thedisasterautist Probably. But the root failure probably lies in ownership's inspection policies.
@RationalLeft: I would be surprised. Carowinds has one of the best safety inspection histories in theme parks nationally and has since the 1970s.
@thedisasterautist If so, someone failed to carry out the inspections they were supposed to carry out.
@RationalLeft Well in fairness it is what we in the biz called a "hairline fracture". Oh wait, scratch that, it's a fracture you could see from the parking lot!
@MidnightRider And it was visibly flexing open as the passenger car went by.
@RationalLeft Relax! A quick run to Autozone and some JB Weld? Ok riders, load up!
@MidnightRider Hey, grey duct tape! Blends right in!
@RationalLeft Interesting, though, how a casual observer can spur some appropriate intervention on an attraction that *doesn't* cost $250,000 per ride.
@Marc_T_Benedict Very different dynamics. You don't have an owner with sole, absolute authority who's convinced himself his dangerous ignorance is "innovation." You have a regulatory structure that can definitely ruin ownership and put them in jail if people die. OceanGate evaded US law by establishing in the Bahamas and operating in international waters only.
@RationalLeft Inspections? We don't need no stinkin' inspections!