Ultimate Quest for Airtime! 2003 Darwin Award Nominee
(May 31, 2003, Indiana)
Tamar came all the way from New York for the annual Stark Raven Mad event at the Splashin’ Safari water park at Holiday World, where members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts planned to rendezvous on Memorial Day weekend. The 32-year-old eagerly looked forward to riding the Raven, later described by Spencer County Prosecutor, Jon Dartt, as “One of the world’s most terrifying roller coasters.”
Tamar planned what coaster enthusiasts call “catching airtime,” which means standing up during the ride to show bravery. The park staff warned the “spirited and intelligent” Harvard MBA, along with the rest of the group, “Do not mess with our safety equipment!” Tamar’s seat belt and lap bar restraint were in place when the train left the station. But you can’t catch airtime that way. Her seat belt was later found unbuckled and tucked into the seat cushions.
As the train swooped over the precipice into the “infamous drop” on the fifth turn at 60 mph, where the G-forces are notoriously skyward, Tamar unlatched her seat belt and stood up! The train dropped, but Tama didn’t. She caught good air until she landed on the ground, 69 feet below.
