Two teenagers, 17-year-old Zachary Steinke and 19-year-old Michael Nash, died on August 10, 1993, after falling 150 feet from a bungee jump cage in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina. The incident, caused by a mechanical failure of a makeshift shrimping winch, led to a $12 million judgment against the attraction’s owners and a $2 million verdict against the state’s Department of Labor.
How did the mechanical failure occur?
The tragedy at the Beach Bungee attraction occurred because of a critical modification to the jump’s lifting system. According to attorney John Kassel, who represented the victims’ families, the original chain-driven lifting mechanism had broken. Instead of a like-for-like replacement, the owners installed a commercial shrimping winch to move the jump cage.
This makeshift system lacked the necessary safety devices to prevent a phenomenon known as “two-blocking.” Kassel explained in a case summary on the Kassel McVey website that because the system had no safety devices, the cable continued to pull until it reached its limit, causing the wire rope to snap under the tension. The cage plummeted 150 feet, killing both Steinke and Nash.
The term “two-blocking” refers to a condition where the cable would eventually fail and break.
What were the legal consequences of the disaster?
The legal aftermath resulted in significant financial judgments that established personal liability for the attraction’s owners. In 1995, the families of the victims won a $12 million judgment against the individual owners of Beach Bungee. The court ruled the owners could be held personally liable because they bypassed safety systems by installing the faulty shrimping winch in a bid to avoid losing summer tourist business.
A second legal battle followed in state court, targeting the South Carolina Department of Labor. The families secured a $2 million verdict. This decision was affirmed on appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court.
Future trends in amusement ride safety
The Beach Bungee case serves as a precedent for how state regulators and private owners are held accountable.
Pro Tip: Staying safe at extreme attractions
Before participating in any high-altitude or extreme ride, look for current inspection stickers displayed at the ticket booth. If the equipment appears rusted, heavily modified with non-standard parts, or if the staff cannot explain the safety protocols, it is safer to decline the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Beach Bungee attraction ever reopened?
No. The 175-foot Beach Bungee arch structure is long gone.
What role did the weather play in the accident?
The day was a particularly wet and rainy one and as the cage was being raised into the evening sky, visibility was reduced and the wire rope was unable to handle the load.
How were the families involved in the aftermath?
Zachary Steinke’s parents were watching from the ground and had to look on in horror as their son fell to his death. They are said to have attempted CPR before the emergency services arrived.
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