on august 16, 1981, a 20-year-old park employee from middletown, nj fell from the coaster to his death during a routine test run. an investigation by the new jersey labor department concluded that the man may not have secured himself with the safety bar. a park representative later confirmed this conclusion, saying that the employee "may have assumed an unauthorized riding position that did not make use of safety restraints." the ride was inspected, and the labor department concluded that the ride was "operationally and mechanically sound."