VERNON -- Cannonball Falls at Action Park, a water slide with the highest number of reported injuries in the state, was shut down last month after state officials learned of a spike in injuries sustained on the ride, according to the Department of Community Affairs.
Six people reported injuries on the ride this season, five of whom suffered shoulder injuries, according to Emike Omogbai, Department of Community Affairs spokesperson. The ride was closed weeks before the park's season ended on Sept. 7.
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Action Park, which gained the infamous nickname "Traction Park" for the high number of injuries reported there in the 1980s and 1990s, continues to top the list as the New Jersey amusement park with the most reported injuries. Cannonball Falls -- an enclosed water slide that ends with a 10 foot drop into a mountain pool -- ranks as the ride with the highest number of reported injuries at both the park and in the state.
Wayne Cooper, of Toms River, told NJ Advance Media he injured his shoulder during his visit on Aug. 8. Cooper said he was told the injury would require surgery, but when he reached out to Mountain Creek, the company that operates Action Park, he claims he was basically told "to take a hike."
"Everybody else is still coincidentally getting the same injury, isn't that telling you something?" he said. "And then the state closes the ride because of it, isn't that further affirmation that you guys are having a problem?"
Messages placed to Mountain Creek on Friday have not been returned.
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Omogbai, the DCA spokesperson, said 27 injuries had been reported at Action Park this season, but that no other rides have been shut down by the DCA. Last year, 25 injuries were reported at the park.
The number of reported injuries at the water park is down from its peak in 2012 when 70 injuries were reported.
Ride owners or operators are required by state law to report within 24 hours any incident that results in "a ride-related injury requiring first aid, or any mechanical malfunction, or an emergency evacuation of the ride."
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.