Colorado Roller Coaster’s Only Fatality: “Frightfully Mangled”

Back in 1915, tragedy struck as a man was killed at a Colorado amusement park.

The incident made local headlines with one news outlet describing the victim as "frightfully mangled."

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When and Where Did the Colorado Amusement Park Accident Take Place?

The incident took place on August 22, 1915, at around 11 p.m., at Lakeside Amusement Park, a theme park that has been operating at its location of 4601 Sheridan Boulevard in Denver since 1908.

What Happened at the Colorado Amusement Park?

A 22-year-old man named Paul Sedlmayr was riding a roller coaster known as The Derby when he unfortunately and tragically fell out of the car he was riding in.

Witnesses say that Sedlmayr appeared to lean out of the car and was ejected. However, the man did not fall to the ground as one might expect, but was instead caught between the track's rails and was fatally injured as cars bumped into his body as the ride continued to operate.

What Did the Local Colorado News Outlets Say About the Incident?

The Rocky Mountain News covered the incident, describing Sedlmayr's lifeless body as "frightfully mangled."

Read More: Examining The Troubling Case Of John Abercrombie In Colorado

The story went on to discuss the fact that hundreds of attendees witnessed the horrific accident as well as the aftermath as crews lowered Sedlmayr's from the track to the ground with a rope.

This tragic accident was the only fatality experienced on The Derby roller coaster, and it was demolished in 1937 and replaced with the famous Cyclone a few years later.