Michael Jaramillo died and his brother. And became trapped in the water.
ALTOONA, Iowa – An Iowa amusement park ride where.
Adventureland General Manager Bill Lentz. Said in a letter posted Friday on the park’s website. That after spending months reviewing the safety of the Raging River ride. Officials have decided to close it permanently.
“This decision comes after months of testing the ride. Working closely with its manufacturer. To identify what improvements each needs to make to meet our operating standards.” Lentz said in the statement. “Based on that review, the best way forward is to close Raging River. And focus on growing the Adventureland experience elsewhere.”
Michael Jaramillo died and his brother and father were injured on July 3, 2021. When their raft capsized and became trapped in the water. The ride uses a conveyor belt to move large circular rafts through the rapids.
Following the boy’s death, the park was sold to Palace Entertainment. And Lentz took over as general manager in 2022. Palace Entertainment is the US subsidiary of Madrid-based Parques Reunidos. The Jaramillo family filed a lawsuit against Adventureland. And its former owners in June 2022, and a separate claim against the state of Iowa in September 2022.
State officials cited the park for 17 safety violations. Related to Jaramillo’s death in November 2021.
The Des Moines Register reports that the violations included. Using flex seals instead of approved patches to fix a leak in the raft’s flotation bladder. Which kept the ride afloat, and not adequately documenting or testing repairs.
