Man who had hand severed while working on Carowinds Windseeker ride files SC lawsuit
A man whose hand was severed while working at Carowinds in 2019 has filed a federal lawsuit in South Carolina alleging negligence.
Carowinds amusement park straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina state line near Charlotte.
Cedar Fair, the company Dynamic Attractions, which is an amusement park maintenance company, and two unidentified individuals are named as defendants in the lawsuit, documents show.
Cedar Fair Entertainment, Carowinds’ parent company, has denied wrongdoing in a response to the lawsuit. The injury happened while the man worked on the Windseeker ride, court documents show.
A federal judge in South Carolina on Thursday ordered the sides to pursue mediation after the federal lawsuit was filed April 6, according to a court order.
The lawsuit follows a fine
The lawsuit claims that Michael Kalos, a contract worker, had his hand amputated in the incident on March 6, 2019.
Kalos was working for TechKnow Serve, a subcontractor of Dynamic Attractions, according to the lawsuit. The suit alleges that proper procedure was not followed during a wire rope inspection of the ride that led to the injury where Kalos’ hand was pulled into a pulley.
In a response filed Wednesday by Cedar Fair, the company denies negligence. Cedar Fair stated in the response the company the man worked for allowed the man to work on the ride without first ensuring the attraction was safe.
Dynamic Attractions has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit after receiving an extension of time to respond, documents show.
The civil lawsuit was moved to federal court after first being filed in York County civil court. No trial date has been set.
The South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), fined Cedar Fair after a workplace safety review of the incident, OSHA documents showed in late 2019.
Carowinds opened in 1973. Carowinds has grown into a 400-acre theme park with more than 60 rides, shows and attractions.
This story was originally published April 18, 2022 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Man who had hand severed while working on Carowinds Windseeker ride files SC lawsuit."
