Deceased Boy's Family To Sue Norridge Amusement Center
UPDATED 04/20/11 1:59 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) -- The family of a 3-year-old boy has announced plans to file a lawsuit, after the boy was killed on a roller coaster at the Go Bananas indoor amusement center in Norridge.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser reports, the family of Jayson Dansby of Dolton, and their attorney, Patrick Salvi, announced the filing of the lawsuit Wednesday.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser reports
Podcast
Jayson was killed on April 2 after falling 3 or 4 feet from the Python Pit roller coaster at the Go Bananas amusement center, at 4516 N. Harlem Ave. in Norridge. He had been riding the Python Pit with his twin brother, Jayden.
Jayson freed himself, stood up, fell out and was hit and killed by the ride.
The family's lawyer, Patrick Salvi, disputes the contention of the amusement park, which says Jayson's death was the result of a tragic accident and there was no mechanical or human error.
Salvi claims the ride was not safe, and the brakes did not work.
"In the police report, the operator clearly stated that she tried to stop the ride; she's banging on the button, and it would not stop," Salvi said.
Also in the police reports, Salvi says, maintenance records for the ride disappeared.
A manager at Go Bananas told CBS 2 Wednesday afternoon that the amusement center has no comment.
Go Bananas reopened April 8 after being closed for the better part of a week after the accident. But the Python Pit did not pass a safety inspection, so the cars on the ride have been taken apart, and on village orders, the ride has been blocked off by drywall, Norridge village officials said.
At least three other families have reported children being injured by the ride.
In 2006, a small child reportedly hit her eye while on the Python Pit, causing her eye to bleed. In 2008, a bumped head and medical center visit was reported after the ride malfunctioned and suddenly stopped. Also in 2008, an 8-year-old girl apparently suffered a broken wrist while riding the Python Pit.
