11-Year-Old Boy Dies After Water Ride Accident At Amusement Park

An 11-year-old boy died and another one is in critical condition after a raft overturned on a water ride at an amusement park in Iowa.

The accident occurred around 7.35 p.m. Saturday when a Raging River raft carrying six people overturned at Adventureland Park in Altoona, ABC News reported citing a statement from the amusement park.

According to the Altoona Police Department, three of the riders were rushed to hospitals in critical condition while a fourth one suffered minor injuries.

Eleven-year-old Michael Jaramillo died from his injuries Sunday, while another juvenile was still in critical condition as of Monday afternoon, police said.

"Adventureland is saddened to learn of the passing of one Guest involved in the Raging River accident on the evening of 7/3/21," the park said in the statement, according to the report.

The incident occurred on the first day of the park’s reopening since its closure in 2020 due to the pandemic. According to the park’s office, an earlier inspection of the river raft before the opening found it to be in "sound working order," CNN reported.

Des Moines lawyer Guy Cook, who represents the Adventureland Park, was quoted as saying by CNN affiliate KCCI that the ride in question has operated since the 1980s and “is safe.”

"The Raging River ride has been in operation for nearly four decades. Former Governor Terry Branstad took one of the inaugural rides on the Raging River ride in 1983," Cook said, adding: "It is a safe ride. The ride was inspected by the State of Iowa the day before the incident and was in good working order."

The park, however, said that an investigation is ongoing and the ride has been closed. “Adventureland is working closely with both the State and local authorities, and would like to thank them again for their efforts,” it said in the statement.

Even though the River raft is deemed safe, the current accident was not the first on the ride. In 2016, a 68-year-old Adventureland Park employee fell onto the conveyor belt while helping riders get out of the raft. He suffered from a fractured skull and a major brain injury, ultimately dying from it days later, reported Des Moines Register.

"This investigation is ongoing and the ride remains closed. Adventureland is working closely with both the State and local authorities, and would like to thank them again for their efforts," said the park in a statement.

Meanwhile, the deceased boy’s mother, Sabrina Jaramillo, said: "I feel like Adventureland robbed me of my baby. I will never get a chance to see him grow up."

The latest accident is not the first one reported on the Raging River ride. In 2016, a 68-year-old Adventureland Park employee fell onto the ride’s conveyor belt while helping riders get out of the raft. He suffered a fractured skull and major brain injury, and died days later, Des Moines Register reported.