Boy, 5, Injured On Sea Serpent Kiddie Coaster At Coney Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 5-year-old boy was injured Wednesday on a ride at Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park at Coney Island, officials said.
The boy was taken to the trauma center at Bellevue Hospital after getting caught between cars on the roller coaster, CBS 2's Jessica Schneider reported. He was reported in stable condition.
Workers believed the boy became frightened and wanted to get off the ride, and then tried to climb out from under the restraining bar -- ending up stuck in the tracks.
"I basically saw a little boy that was wedged on the railing and the ground," witness Leroy Mace said.
Mace said he was standing next to the Sea Serpent as the boy was being rescued from the tracks. He took a video as the paramedics wheeled the young victim away.
"What I saw was a little boy coming out on the stretcher -- that's what I saw. And his mom was crying," a woman said. "That's all I saw."
It was just before 7 p.m. when the boy and his 7-year-old sister boarded the kiddie coaster, officials said.
"The investigation is showing that the lap bar was securely fastened, and that he just wiggled his way out from underneath it," said Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park vice president Dennis Vourderis.
Vourderis said the boy then slipped between his car and the one behind him, falling between the two cars, and finding himself wedged in the track.
"Our staff did everything they had to do in order to administer first aid," Vourderis said. "He got medical attention right away from our staff, who called 911 as well."
The boy suffered injuries to his left leg and head, leaving parents to wonder about the safety of their own kids.
"It's scary, because mine, they love to go on it; whenever we get here, that's the first place they hit," said Gladys Martir of East New York, Brooklyn. "I'm so happy I wasn't here at that time."
Earlier reports indicated that the victim's mother had suffered a leg injury, but authorities later said she was not injured.
Vourderis said the boy did meet the 36-inch height requirement on the ride.
Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park said the Sea Serpent has been running for 15 years, and this was the first accident. The ride passed inspection two weeks ago, park officials said.
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