This happened on Sunday, July 31st...but I was there with my family the 2nd and 3rd and rode Dragon Challenge a few times and it was perfectly fine, no injuries! Regardless, thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

http://www.wftv.com/news/28743140/detail.html

Sounds like a cell phone...?

How awful. I can only think what would have happened to my daughter on Beast if that darn basketball had hit her.

You just never know-makes ya think about wearing eye protection. Probably was a cell phone.

I even thought it could have been a some sorta coin. They said they couldn't find anything that could have been the cause of the accident, so if it were a cell phone, they probably would have found it. A coin is small enough that it could have just fallen onto the ground and easily looked-over...

Still though, cell phones should definitely be secured, otherwise your lovely iPhone could cause an accident similar to this

That is just horrifying. Sometimes, I wonder why I still ride these things. Even though it was a freak accident.

But, my prayers are with the family.

I even thought it could have been a some sorta coin. They said they couldn't find anything that could have been the cause of the accident, so if it were a cell phone, they probably would have found it. A coin is small enough that it could have just fallen onto the ground and easily looked-over...

Still though, cell phones should definitely be secured, otherwise your lovely iPhone could cause an accident similar to this

That's a thought. A loose coin could do that. At lot of times people think, and myself included, it's such small change, if it falls it falls, but we don't think of it flying back. The Diamond back netting is full of loose change, but DB doesn't have the spirals that I saw on the Dragon's Challenge, all that flipping around would knock anything in pockets loose. There's probably tons of change around the ground in under that ride.

How bad for that poor man that he should be blind in one eye and then have the other damaged? He was doing something fun at that. I can only hope the best for him, and that seems so feeble.

As for safety glasses, it's okay to laugh if you should see me in the park

As part of those 'buy one get one free' glasses specials, (which means you pay a huge amount for the first pair to get the second 'free',) I got a pair of kid's sports glasses for the rides.

I AM Rocket J. Squirrel.

As the signs say "Ride at your own risk" That is why i always wear sunglasses on coasters. I've had a bug hit me in the eye before. Not fun.

And then there's Knotts Berry Farm, and its policies on eye protection.

You never know, maybe a pair of glasses fell off and hit him in the eye...

Terp, I just browsed the Knott's Rider Safety Guide to see if they made direct mention of not allowing eyeglasses. All I see is the following:

Headwear is discouraged on most attractions; however, if worn, it must be secured.

Secure loose items (glasses, cameras, wallets, hats, keys, etc.) or leave them with a non-rider

From Knotts' Rider Safety Guide.

In other words, if it used to be directly spelled out (which I feel like it should be), then perhaps the policy has changed? And if not, wouldn't eyeglasses be considered "headgear?" What else could they be talking about? Large orthodontia? Hats? Does an eyeglass strap not count as "secured?" That whole policy absolutely baffles me.

Was Fabio wearing eye protection on Apollo's Chariot? (I guess a flying Canada goose is an extreme exception.) Still, it's a good idea to get a lanyard and some good shades to protect the peepers on these contraptions...

I was thinking about this whole situation last night and I think I am going to wear the glasses I use when shooting. I normally have sunglasses on even at night, but really that's not enough.

I'm a person that gets everthing in my eyes, and never felt my good glasses were ever secure enough, even with the dorky strap in back. Last night I wore the goggles.

The Liberty brand sports goggles took away the real fear factor of riding, (getting something in my eye, have my expensive glasses fly off) so that I could enjoy the manufactured fear.

Bifocals distort the edges of vision, and wearing no glasses makes it difficult of me to see the track, I'm squinching my eyes to avoid everything in the world getting into them.

The sports goggles had a wide frame, I could see much more, there was clarity to see the tunnel on The Beast, and the strap snapped securely in place very quickly.

Wearing eyegear on the rides was the difference between watching a Philco and HDTV.

There was a little kid in line who was wearing the same glasses. We appraised each other for our good taste.

Kelli, thats what I ALWAYS do when on any coaster. Im either wearing my sun/safety glasses, or my blue tint safety/shooting glasses when it is overcast or post-dusk. Its not just simply to keep dirt out of my contacts.