Toddler killed in accident at London fairground

[robbalvey]

If he was not arrested and put in jail for running over a 5 year old child why should the parents of the young child killed by the coaster be punished? The school bus driver wasn't punished?

Probably because each incident would be handled on a case-by-case basis. Not saying that this incident DOES fall under that, just saying that it COULD.

 

I'm sure the parents will not be found at fault, and instead I wouldn't be surprised if there was some kind of ruling which now all the UK fairs will be required to spend unnecessary money to increase the amount of fencing around their rides, which is sad, IMO, because I personally think that sends the wrong message.

 

--Robb

[rawrtotheargh]

^ I agree. Its sad that when most parks are faced with lawsuits they always end up settling instead of fighting it in court. When you go to an amusement park you have to assume that there is a risk that you may possibly get injured or maybe even die. I would love to see a park fight a case. But I suppose it doesn't make the company look good so they end up settling.

[astroworldfan1]

I'd rather have the park put up a fence rather than having the park shutdown.

 

-Tatum

[Sir Clinksalot]

I'm sure the parents will not be found at fault, and instead I wouldn't be surprised if there was some kind of ruling which now all the UK fairs will be required to spend unnecessary money to increase the amount of fencing around their rides, which is sad, IMO, because I personally think that sends the wrong message.

 

--Robb

 

Your probably right Robb, sadly.

 

It's the dumbing down of the world. "Natural Selection" is no longer enough, we need to make everybody suffer for people who don't know any better.

 

It's just the way of the world ... sadly.

[Kennyweird]

I'm going to go back on my word and make one more post. I suggest reading through this carefully, that way there is no misunderstanding.

 

So yes, maybe the fair could have had a better fence, but they are not at fault because they did have one, one that would have slowed a toddler down enough so that even a moderately attentive parent could have noticed their child was potentially in danger.

Exactly.

 

You can't assume it slowed him down. No one is sure how he got past the fence in the first place. For all we know there could have been a gap in it that would have allowed him to quickly slip through. Hopefully the investigation will be able to resolve this.

 

Why is everybody being so judgmental? We simply can't make any conclusions about who's responsible until all the details are known. Doing so would be unfair and foolish.

So you're calling everyone in this thread foolish?

 

I think the fact that your 17 and obviously NOT a parent makes you think this way. The rest of us, who are not 17 and ARE parents have a little more insight into the behavior patterns of children and other parents than you are giving us credit for.

 

I spoke to a few parents ,including my own, and they all agreed with me, so certainly your view isn't universal.

 

All I'm saying is that sometimes even the best of parents can have a bad moment, and one bad moment is all it takes.

REALLY? So you're saying that the death of this child is completely acceptable because "even the best of parents can have a bad moment."

 

"Ooops! My child died! Look at that, huh? Chalk that one up to being my bad moment! Wow...he was only two. Guess I used up that coupon early, didn't I! Hey you wanna go grab a beer?"

 

When I read your post, that is what you're communicating to me.

 

You're attacking a straw man. I never said that the death of this child is acceptable, I just said that things like this do happen occasionally. You're getting "how things should be" mixed up with "how things are". We all make mistakes; its not acceptable nor is it fair, but it's just the way things are.

 

Again, you're 17 and can't possibly understand what it's like to have a 2 year old child and the responsibilities that go with it. Yet you're willing to argue with those that do like you're an expert on the subject.

 

I don't need to know what it's like to be a parent to know that parents can make mistakes, which is what my argument's based on.

 

Please be aware, I'm not trying to be combative or trying to annoy you, I'm just raising what I feel are serious objections to your viewpoint.

 

Can you at least kind of see my point?

[justint87]

I have read every post on this thread and everyone makes valid points in my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and I think its great that we can see view points from both side.

 

As for my opinion on this unfortunate situation, I will hold it until a full investigation has been done.

[robbalvey]

I'm going to go back on my word and make one more post. I suggest reading through this carefully, that way there is no misunderstanding.

 

I'm going to strongly recommend you stick to your word and stop posting in this thread. Your comments are starting to get on a personal level and borderline attacking. Clearly you're singling me out and I don't appreciate it nor is it the smartest thing you could be doing.

 

Aren't there other threads on TPR you could be more productive in or contribute to?

 

--Robb

[chocolatechipcookie]

this is clearly parents' fault.

the only way theme park'd be at fault is if a rollercoaster'd fall apart or'd go off the rail. other than that - these parks is a dangerous territory with all the machines, even grown-ups could get hurt - it's always upon your attention.

 

but still, parents shouldn't be punished or anything - i doubt their life would ever be normal again.

 

..it's a sad sad story..

[tedten]

Here is a random thought: What kind of suicidal kid would wander right up to a go-gator coaster? I know I would have been scared to death to get too close to that type of ride if I was not actually riding it! I guess this has alot to do with the how the individual is raised and the don't play in traffic, stand on the dot, hold my hand school of thought.

[Mechanic]

^ The kid was 2. I'm pretty certain 2 year olds can't even comprehend what suicide is.

[Purplepills]

Just found a photo showing the location of the bouncy castle/fence/coaster, which by the looks of it is after the accident and has been put back where it would have been before it was moved to get to the child. Whilst I appreciate that the majority of people see that there is no problem with it (and I'd assume it was up to H&S guidelines), thought people might like to see it.

 

[Homeboy23]

^ It's amazing how 2 year olds can fit through the smallest things.

 

My friend's 2 year old slipped through the rails of the 2nd floor balcony. Luckily she was unharmed by the fall. And before the flaming occurs, yes my friend should have never turned her head for more than a second while her kid was on the balcony.

[tedten]

^ The kid was 2. I'm pretty certain 2 year olds can't even comprehend what suicide is.

 

I didn't really mean suicidal. I just meant brave enough to go attack a loud rolly-coaster, something I would never have been brave enough to do no matter how curious I was. Sorry for the unclear post. It still makes me wonder though. Maybe the ride was loading and wasn't running when the kid walked onto the track.

[Mechanic]

The kid may have thought the coaster was "cute" and wanted to give it a hug. Or maybe he never even noticed the coaster train and just thought the track was some new kind of playground apparatus he hadn't seen before. The reasons for his curiosity will never be known, but little kids are naturally curious, and some are more fearless than others.

[Skramp]

Ok Kennywierd, I wasn't going to say anything, but after reading through the entire thread, I feel I have to post something directed at you. You have NO idea what you are talking about. I have 2 year old twin boys. I know that if I turn my head for a second, they will be gone. They are my kids, they are my responsibility, they are my life. I'm not allowed to have a bad moment. I have to be on my toes at all times when they are awake. In case you don't know, that's called being a parent.

 

If my kids were in that bouncy house, I would be standing directly at the exit waiting for them to get out. They wouldn't have a chance to run off anywhere. That's what a responsible parent would do. You don't take your kids and just "drop them off" and assume they are ok.

 

I hold the parents responsible. There are no "do-overs" when it comes to being a parent, there are no second chances. If you can conceive the child, then you should conceive of taking the next 18 years protecting that child. As the child grows, they become more responsible and independent, but at 2, you have to stay directly by their side all the time, no questions asks.

 

I'm shocked and appalled by your comments and non-caring attitude. I hope that when you father a child, you have a sense of what it truly means. Let me lay it out this way, I have had 2 nights to myself in the past 2 years. It's called parenthood. If that doesn't sound good, don't participate.

 

PS-The fence is only a small barrier, come spend 10 mins with my boys and they will show you how easy it is to overcome. Which brings me to another point. If the child was able to get by the fence, and knowing my kids. It would have taken about a minute or so for them to figure out how to get around it (maybe squeeze between the bouncy house and fence) and then be heading towards the coaster. That would tell me that the parents left the kid alone without checking for more than a few minutes. No matter what the reasoning, that is unforgivable.