Busch's Rhino Rally Ride Overturns
June 28, 2001
A Land Rover used in Busch Gardens' highly promoted Rhino Rally attraction overturned in the middle of the ride, stranding its 17 passengers in the midst of wild animal habitat. The ride has been closed indefinitely. Passengers Saul Soto, a 23-year-old Orlando man, and 16-year-old Deidre Shellman of Tampa required medical treatment after the accident. Soto is being treated at University Community Hospital for neck pain. Shellman was also taken to University Community where she is being treated for head and back pain. None of the injuries appears life threatening.
The Tampa theme park opened Rhino Rally in May 2001 and has promoted the ride in a nationwide advertising campaign. Park officials said that "tens of thousands" of visitors have already been through the attraction. At a cost of $42 million, it is the most expensive ride in the park's history.
Rhino Rally takes visitors on a safari race through African habitat. The custom-designed Land Rover vehicles tour 16 acres, exposing guests to elephants, giraffes, zebras, and other wild animals.
The Land Rover turned over while taking visitors from the rhinoceros area into the crocodile habitat. The passengers scrambled out from underneath the vehicle while the driver radioed for help. Within minutes of the accident, zoo staff members were on the scene, moving animals into night quarters. Although two rhinoceroses were grazing in the area, park officials claim that they posed no danger to the stranded riders.
Since its May opening, Rhino Rally has encountered numerous problems and delays. Officials recently reported that the attraction has been operating at two-thirds of its expected capacity because of such problems. Ride delays sometimes reach 90 minutes.
Busch officials say the ride will remain closed until they are 100% certain that an accident of this sort will not happen again.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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