A Kings Island worker is speaking out after a man was hit by a roller coaster Wednesday night at the Ohio amusement park.”They were very distraught. Everyone on the train was very distraught because they knew something happened,” the ride operator said.Park officials say a guest entered a restricted, fenced-off area around the Banshee roller coaster around 8 p.m. They believe the 38-year-old man was hit by the ride while he was trying to retrieve keys he dropped.The Kings Island ride operator WLWT spoke with, who wants to remain anonymous, says a man who lost his keys on the ride was pleading with a worker to get them back.”He was very distraught. He wouldn’t stop exclaiming and yelling like I need them right now,” the ride operator said. “He actually got back in line and unbeknownst to us at the time he entered through the gate.”That’s when he says the man was hit by the Banshee roller coaster. He heard what the people in the front row of the ride were saying after the impact.”It was very ominous, and they were like, ‘Oh my God. What’s happening? What happened?’ The sentiment that was echoed among the people was it was such a loud noise,” the ride operator said.Immediately, he knew this was urgent.”Me and a couple others went over to the station and we saw there was a body lying on the ground,” the ride operator said.Police say the man who was hit is in critical condition at UC Medical Center.”It’s extremely important that people listen to the warnings and signs at an amusement park. They are there for a reason. If you don’t listen to them, things like this are likely to happen, especially in the presence of intense and speedy rides like that,” the ride operator said.The Banshee ride will remain closed while authorities and park personnel investigate the incident.
A Kings Island worker is speaking out after a man was hit by a roller coaster Wednesday night at the Ohio amusement park.
“They were very distraught. Everyone on the train was very distraught because they knew something happened,” the ride operator said.
Park officials say a guest entered a restricted, fenced-off area around the Banshee roller coaster around 8 p.m. They believe the 38-year-old man was hit by the ride while he was trying to retrieve keys he dropped.
The Kings Island ride operator WLWT spoke with, who wants to remain anonymous, says a man who lost his keys on the ride was pleading with a worker to get them back.
“He was very distraught. He wouldn’t stop exclaiming and yelling like I need them right now,” the ride operator said. “He actually got back in line and unbeknownst to us at the time he entered through the gate.”
That’s when he says the man was hit by the Banshee roller coaster. He heard what the people in the front row of the ride were saying after the impact.
“It was very ominous, and they were like, ‘Oh my God. What’s happening? What happened?’ The sentiment that was echoed among the people was it was such a loud noise,” the ride operator said.
Immediately, he knew this was urgent.
“Me and a couple others went over to the station and we saw there was a body lying on the ground,” the ride operator said.
Police say the man who was hit is in critical condition at UC Medical Center.
“It’s extremely important that people listen to the warnings and signs at an amusement park. They are there for a reason. If you don’t listen to them, things like this are likely to happen, especially in the presence of intense and speedy rides like that,” the ride operator said.
The Banshee ride will remain closed while authorities and park personnel investigate the incident.
