Woman Sues After Helping Boy Who Died At Amusement Center
UPDATED 04/20/11 7:37 a.m.
NORRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) -- A woman has filed a lawsuit, claiming she suffered emotional distress when she tried to help the boy who fell to his death from a roller coaster at a Norridge amusement center this month.
Marion Grant filed the lawsuit Tuesday against Go Bananas, at 4516 N. Harlem Ave. in Norridge. She claims she suffered emotional distress and anxiety April 2 while attempting to help the boy killed in a roller coaster ride, according to the suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit does not indicate any familial or other relationship between Grant and the boy who was killed, Jayson Dansby, 3, of Dolton.
Jayson lost his life after falling off the Python Pit roller coaster. Norridge police Chief James Jobe said Jayson somehow freed himself from the safety bar and became wedged between two cars.
Grant claims she was waiting in the "zone of danger" with her children when the accident happened, causing her emotional distress and anxiety.
The suit claims Go Bananas failed to have an attendant operating the machine at all times, operated the roller coaster ride too fast and didn't have proper harnesses to secure children. It also claims the facility didn't have an emergency stop on the ride.
A Go Bananas employee could not comment on the lawsuit Tuesday night, and referred all inquiries to a manger who was not immediately available.
Grant is seeking more than $50,000.
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.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
