Controversial Wave water park slide to reopen
DUBLIN » Almost a year after a 10-year-old boy was violently thrown from a steep water slide only hours into its debut, the city of Dublin announced it will reopen the attraction at the Wave water park this weekend. State investigators concluded the water flow and water depth settings caused the accident, and the problems were fixed.
The state Division of Safety and Health worked with manufacturer Whitewater and the city’s amusement ride safety expert to determine the cause of the accident. According to the final report obtained by Bay Area News Group, state investigators found the manufacturer failed in its initial testing of the 48-foot high Emerald Plunge slide and lacked proper testing procedures to ready such rides for the public.
Investigators found that the deeper pooling of water at the bottom of the flume, combined with the faster water flow, created a “more aggressive, faster stop.” Investigators simulated the accident with the same water conditions as the day of the accident, sending weighted bags at 78 pounds — the same weight as the boy — down the slide. The bags flipped up and out of the bottom slide catch basin, similar to what happened to the boy, who suffered bruises and road rash.
“We are very conscientious of the health and safety of anyone who visits,” Dublin spokeswoman Shari Jackman said in a phone interview. “With the rigorous testing done, new safety protocols and recertification by (the state) we are confident with the safety of our speed slides now.”
Following the May 27, 2017, accident — horrifying footage captured by a Bay Area News Group photographer went viral — the slide was immediately shut down, along with an adjacent ride dubbed the Dublin Screamer.
Miraculously, the boy was not seriously injured. His family sued the city and ride manufacturer claiming the ride was not properly tested before the grand opening.
The city saidWhitewater conducted “extensive testing” in the year since the accident to determine new settings for users of varying heights and weights. The company tested the settings with live riders, complying with industry safety standards established by ASTM International. Cal/ OSHA has since recertified the slides with the revised settings, according to the city.
Whitewater did not return a request for comment Thursday.
The 21-page Cal/OSHA field report concluded:
• Whitewater did not have effective testing procedures in place for any of its previously built speed slides.
• Whitewater arbitrarily took the height minimums and weight restrictions from common roller- coaster requirements that had no independent support or testing for such speed slides.
• The manufacturer admitted to investigators that the slide was set up incorrectly and the accident could have been prevented. Whitewater was conducting its own internal investigation into why the water flow and depth issues were not identified prior to the commission of the slide.
Cal/OSHA has not levied any citations or fines in the case, spokeswoman Erika Monterroza said.
Before the slide’s opening last year the manufacturer only tested the midrange of weights, between 155 and 205 pounds, according to Cal/OSHA.
Andrew Mulligan, Whitewater’s senior installation adviser, told Cal/ OSHA agents that the company has between 50 and 150 similar slides across the world and he remembers two other slides with water levels that were too high, and in one case a rider slid across the outer wall as well.
During the probe, investigators went to Water world California in Concord to observe the similar Whitewater ride Cliffhanger #1, installed in 1990. The water depth was much shallower and investigators found no issues.
The family of the boy settled with all sides earlier this year for an undis- closed sum, attorney Waukeen McCoy said.
“My clients are satisfied and just hope that all the changes have been made so kids are safe when they go to the park,” McCoy said.
Jackman said the case against the city was dropped and the manufacturer was the only party to contribute to the settlement.
For the two “speed slides,” the requirements for riders will remain the same — a minimum weight and height of 45 pounds and 48 inches, and a maximum weight and height of 300 pounds and 76 inches. However, the flow of the water will decrease, and the amount of water pooled at the bottom of the slide will be lowered, Jackman said.
Despite its dubious debut over last Memorial Day weekend, the city- owned water park located at Emerald Glen Park hosted 55,000 visitors during the inaugural summer, along with 98 group rentals, 2,500 swim school students, 147 birthday parties and employed 170 staff members.
The water park will reopen Saturday. After Memorial Day weekend, the park will be open daily beginning June 2 through Aug. 12. Once school resumes in August, the park will be open on weekends through Labor Day.