12-year-old Joshua Smurphat was visiting Great America on 8/22/1999 with his mother when he fell to his death at 3:00PM when participating in the attraction. It is not known exactly from what height he fell from, but from eyewitness accounts, it was from approximately 20 stories.

Investigators found out from the ride operators that the particular vehicle the boy was riding in had been having problems earlier in the day. The ride cycle the boy was riding on was to be the last for the day before being held out of service for the maintenance department to inspect. Witnesses said that the boy's safety restraint harness came undone as the vehicle reached the top of the tower and he was struggling to stay safely in his seat; but he fell to his death as the vehicle made its descent down the tower.

Investigators and police involved in the case later determined that the harness was in working condition and was locked and in place when the ride carriage Joshua Smurphat came to a stop at the base of the tower. Investigators could not fully conclude how he managed to fall from the attraction.

It was not the first time the boy had ridden the attraction, his mother later attested. His mother was interviewed and following the incident declared that she would not press charges against Great America.

Numerous witnesses to the incident experienced trauma. A lawsuit was filed later against the park by a witness because of it.

The ride was retroffitted with seat-belts in modular prior to reopening.