This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at amusement parks, water parks, or theme parks that are currently owned or operated by Cedar Fair. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that had a significant impact on the parks or park operations, or are otherwise significantly newsworthy. The term incidents refers to major accidents, injuries, or deaths that occur at a park. These incidents were required to be reported to regulatory authorities due to where they occurred. They usually fall into one of the following categories:
Negligence on the part of the guest, such as refusal to follow specific ride safety instructions. A guest deliberately breaking park rules. A guest's known, or unknown, health issues. Negligence on the part of the park, either by a ride operator or maintenance staff. Negligence on the part of the attraction's manufacturer (e.g., faulty design) An Act of God or a generic accident (e.g., slipping and falling) that is not a direct result of an action or inaction on anybody's part.
California's Great America
On July 4, 2019, police were called near the entrance of the park where a woman was shot during the evening of the fireworks show. The victim was struck on the arm by a handgun. She did not suffer any serious injuries and was also treated at the scene. It was ruled as an altercation between two family groups.
Breakers Bay
On July 12, 2007, a 4-year-old boy drowned in a two-foot deep area of the wave pool. Lifeguards and EMTs tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at Kaiser Hospital.
Demon
On August 12, 1976, the wheel assembly guide from a roller coaster train on Demon broke loose and fell to the ground, causing the ride to automatically stop while on its tracks. There were a total of 24 passengers on board the ride and none of them were seriously injured. A park spokesperson claimed that it happened a few seconds after the train went through the double corkscrews before stopping at its brake run. At that time the ride was known as Turn of the Century.
Drop Tower
On August 22, 1999, a 12-year-old boy fell from the Drop Tower and died. His family claimed the shoulder harnesses were not locked properly. An investigation was inconclusive and no charges were filed.
Flight Deck
On September 7, 1998, a 25-year-old Spanish-speaking man was struck by the dangling leg of a 28-year-old woman riding Flight Deck. There were allegedly issues with his ability to understand the park's English warning signs, and he entered the ride's restricted area to retrieve his hat. He was pronounced dead an hour later at Valley Medical Center. The woman riding suffered a broken leg. On June 12, 2015, a maintenance worker was critically injured after being struck in the head by a moving train on Flight Deck. A passenger sustained serious hand and leg injuries in the incident.
Halloween Haunt
On October 28, 2017, police reported that there were multiple witnesses where 20 teenage boys were assaulting and robbing park visitors. One person was arrested while others suffered minor injuries and some were taken to the hospital. On October 26, 2019, a group of teenagers sparked some firecrackers in the front gate causing guests to scramble, thinking it was a shooting. It was later determined to be due to a robbery. Concession stands within the park were also robbed by fleeing guests.
Invertigo
On August 10, 2009, 24 passengers on Invertigo were stuck on the ride up its lift hill after it malfunctioned. It took firefighters more than four hours to safely evacuate passengers down the staircase. No injuries were reported.
Logger's Run
On July 4, 1989, two boys intentionally jumped out of the ride. One 9-year-old died and the other fell safely onto an emergency platform.
Rip Roaring Rapids
In 1996, six people were injured when a raft on the Rip Roaring Rapids overturned. In 2005, a female park patron suffered broken ribs in an impact with the side of a seat when the raft came to a sudden stop.
Rue Le Dodge
In July 2005, a woman fractured her wrist while she was on one of the bumper cars accompanied by her son.