Big Splash knowingly put lives in danger

[patric]

Thousands have already ridden the flumes at Big Splash this summer, but the state says some slides should have never opened. Inspectors say the park's owners ignored a failed safety inspection and continued operating a slide deemed to be dangerous.

News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren reports she uncovered an inspection report from last December, ordering the ride be shut down for repairs.          

The state officials say Big Splash knowingly put people's lives in danger.

On June 8th of last year, the Master Blaster slide at Big Splash collapsed, sending an 11-year-old girl into a safety net below. The accident prompted new state inspections of water parks. And at that time Big Splash's owner, Loretta Murphy, vowed to comply with inspections to look out for her customers' safety.

"We want to find the cause, and get to the bottom of it, and make sure it does not happen at big splash again," said Murphy in June 2007.

So why then, if the park's owner was concerned about people's safety, did she ignore an official state order to replace rotten structural beams on the flumes, some of the park's tallest slides?

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=8528744

[Hoss]

Hmm...if I recall correctly, doesn't Randi Miller have some sort of connection either financially or some other way with this park?  Or am I not recalling correctly?

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Hoss

Hmm...if I recall correctly, doesn't Randi Miller have some sort of connection either financially or some other way with this park?  Or am I not recalling correctly?

Just a nice campaign contribution from the Murphy's and oversight of Big Splash to an extent as a member of the Fair Board.

[Kashmir]

As a kid I was always told the Silver Bullet closest to the street was the deadly one[?]

[breitee]

How long is this bull**** going to be allowed to continue? Is it going to take somebody getting killed out there before somebody has the balls to do something? Run that crook Murphy out of town, bulldoze that unsafe, rundown crap and build something worthwhile that Tulsa can be proud of, not a third rate laughing stock "attraction".

[dbacks fan]

Isn't this similar to the way Murphy Brothers maintains their ride equipment for the fair? I remember that they have had a few deaths (I think 3 or 4) at the fair since the early 70's. I realize that over that span of time it's a small number, but it seems that they run stuff until it breaks or something bad happens, then put a band aid on it call it good and run it some more.

[waterboy]

What exactly was the failure due to? Was there more than some rotting timbers or was it all rotting? Seems like a few rotting timbers would have been a straightforward repair. Makes me think there is more than that.

[Steve]

Oklahoma laws regarding safety and operation of park rides/facilities need to be beefed up.  The way I understand it, the state inspector issued the report about rotting timbers on the Big Splash water slides last December 2007 and said they needed to fix the problems before opening of the 2008 season, but there is no law in place that can force a shut down or major fine if the situation is not corrected before the ride is open.  What a crock, and waste of taxpayer $ for inspectors, if they can not force a shut down.  When is the first death going to occur before these park operators get a clue?

[cannon_fodder]

Part of the reason Bell's was closed is that their failed business model might lead to unsafe conditions... Big Splash is apperently officially deemed unsafe and no one seems to care.

I don't want Bell's booted.  I like activity at Expo.  But it keeps looking more and more like the  some animals are more equal than others.

[nofearfactor]

my kids arent going there this summer.period...

[safetyguy]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

Part of the reason Bell's was closed is that their failed business model might lead to unsafe conditions... Big Splash is apperently officially deemed unsafe and no one seems to care.

I don't want Bell's booted.  I like activity at Expo.  But it keeps looking more and more like the  some animals are more equal than others.

You mean you don't want Big Splash booted since Bell's is long gone right??

[DolfanBob]

First it was the recent storms that caused the problems and delays. And now Mrs Murphy is on the News on 6 today stating that it was just a oversight of her's about the report last December. If there was any family in the Tulsa area that has the money to do the repairs, it is the Murphy family.

[Conan71]

The story is in the World this morning as well.  I was astonished to hear her comments about it being "an oversight".  

My company is regulated by the same state agency they are, we don't do "oversights".  That's total B.S. Mrs. Murphy.  Oversights of DOL recommendations cause deaths.

[Steve]

The big problem is that state inspectors have no power to force a shut-down or levy fines.  There is no "teeth" in the inspection process.  The only good the inspection does right now, is create a public document/report.  At least Ch.6 got a hold of this and made the public aware.  State law needs to be changed to give inspectors of water amusements the power to close until repairs are made.

I drove by Big Splash today on my way to Reasors across the street, and made a point to eyeball the structure.  You can see where the beams have been replaced, but if I had kids, I wouldn't let them on that thing, especially the 3 water flumes.  The whole structure looks very sparse and rickety to me.  The 2 large straight slides look much more safely supported, just to my eyes.

[HazMatCFO]

quote:Originally posted by DolfanBob

First it was the recent storms that caused the problems and delays. And now Mrs Murphy is on the News on 6 today stating that it was just a oversight of her's about the report last December. If there was any family in the Tulsa area that has the money to do the repairs, it is the Murphy family.

I bet mouthpiece Mrs Murphy for the Murphy Bros told the state to beat it and someone called Channel 6 and said psst, you want a good story?