# The Edge

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 7, 2001, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844 "2001-01-07T08:06:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844/21 "2001-01-13T01:34:01Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \*  
> \*\*Great Scott, **Samclem** is that a “for-real” website? Go look at [http://members.aol.com/rides911/accidents.htm](http://members.aol.com/rides911/accidents.htm)  
> \<snip\>  
> There are at least a dozen amusement park deaths listed at this site that evidently must have been “hushed up”  
> \*\*

The incident referred to as the B&B Himalaya Tragedy on that site was big news here in Austin, where it happened. A teenage girl was killed because of half-ass maintenance of a ride at the livestock show. The owners of the ride were indicted for murder, which most people thought was an overreaction, and ended up plea-bargaining for manslaughter.

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**Author:** ![bryno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@bryno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryno)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844/22 "2013-07-21T12:49:14Z")

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I recall that two people were killed on the Edge. I delivered the Milwaukee Journal between the ages of 13 and 18 and always read the newspaper. Enough to gain recognition for current affairs quiz’s in school. So, I feel confident in my recollection.

However, I feel uneasy now that I read on the internet that no one was killed and that 3 kids were injured. So, something is very strange for me to have this idea that people were killed and when I ask my best friend Mike the same question he thought there were people killed on the ride as well.

Also keep in mind that this occurred in 1984 which, if Mr. Orwell was right, would have began double speak, re-writing history and thought police. So, now I am really concerned.

Time to hit the library and review some microfiche :\>

Bryon Pelzek  
[bryonpelzek@hotmail.com](mailto:bryonpelzek@hotmail.com)

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844/23 "2013-07-21T13:29:14Z")

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Bear in mind that initial news reports are sometimes wrong.

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**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844/24 "2013-07-21T13:34:39Z")

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Now, some years after both the incidents in question and the OP of this ancient thread, social media would’ve been filled with pics and video.

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**Author:** ![Bremidon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Bremidon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bremidon)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844/25 "2013-07-22T08:22:04Z")

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Having been on “The Edge” several weeks before the accident, I remember that the three or four boys were injured. No deaths.

The big legend that cropped up back then, was that the boys all got free lifetime passes. In fact, the legend was that anyone getting injured at the park got lifetime passes.

As a kid, this had some appeal. A little later, the logical weakness of receiving lifetime passes to a place that nearly killed you became clearer.

As to remembering someone dying, maybe you were thinking of [12-Year Old Falls to Death at Pararmount’s Great America](http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/august99/stories/082499_01.shtml)

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**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844/26 "2013-07-22T09:44:57Z")

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> [@Bremidon](#):
>
> Having been on “The Edge” several weeks before the accident, I remember that the three or four boys were injured. No deaths.
> 
> The big legend that cropped up back then, was that the boys all got free lifetime passes. In fact, the legend was that anyone getting injured at the park got lifetime passes.
> 
> As a kid, this had some appeal. A little later, the logical weakness of receiving lifetime passes to a place that nearly killed you became clearer.
> 
> As to remembering someone dying, maybe you were thinking of [12-Year Old Falls to Death at Pararmount’s Great America](http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/august99/stories/082499_01.shtml)

Would a lifetime pass still be valid if you became a zombie?

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**Author:** ![LG105](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@LG105](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LG105)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-edge/48844/27 "2013-07-22T16:01:44Z")

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NO ONE died that day on The Edge in Gurnee. I was on the original crew and was at the park that day (working on a nearby ride). Kids were injured. I worked there for several years after that and never heard of any cover up.

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