ALTOONA, Iowa — An 11-year-old boy died of injuries on the Raging River amusement park raft ride at the Adventureland amusement park in this northeast Des Moines suburb. The raft carrying Michael Jaramillo flipped, investigators said. Five other people also were on the craft, one in critical condition and two with minor injuries. The ride uses a conveyor belt to move large circular rafts through faux rapids. It was not immediately clear what caused the raft to flip. The Raging River ride has had spotty history.
> 1983. The Raging River ride opened with Governor Terry Branstad taking the inaugural ride. Hd eas soaked but exuberant: “A great way to cool off with the whole family”
> 2016. A 68-year-old seasonal employee died as he was helping people out a Raging River ride. The ride jerked unexpectedly. He fell onto the conveyor belt about three feet below and became wedged between a boat and a concrete sidewall. His head was repeatedly rammed until the ride’s operator shut it down. The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration concluded that fined the needed devices and fined Adventureland $4,500.
> 2018. An employee working on an Adventureland roller coaster was stuck by a car during a test and knocked to the ground He broke an arm. He broke arm. Adventureland settled safety violation for $14,500.
Raging River. The ride has been shut down pending an investigation. It is among 100 rides, some advertised as thrill rides, at the sprawling 180-acre Adventureland park.