The Xcelerator roller coaster at Knotts Berry Farm has reopened since the 2009 accident that injured two riders.  A state investigation found that the accident could have been prevented with proper maintenance and both the theme park and the ride manufacturer are at fault.

The ride, Xcelerator, is a $13 Million hydraulic launch accelerator coaster that opened in 2002 at the Knott’s Berry Farm Theme park.  It reopened Monday after being modifications were made to it required by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

The state’s report in a statement said it “identified shortcomings in the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the inspection and maintenance of the cable and required Knott’s Berry Farm to put into place additional safeguards to determine cable viability and to work with the manufacturer to revise maintenance instructions.”

The accident that led to these modifications occurred on September 16, 2009 when a 12 year old boy’s leg was cut and a man suffered back injuries.  These accidents were captured by and on-board video camera.

The video was viewed nearly 100,000 times on YouTube and shows a blast of debris that sprayed riders as a cable snapped loose during the hydraulic launch up the distinctive 205 foot tall element.  Frantic riders tried to free themselves from the smoking coaster as the train descended back toward the station.

Dean Fryer, Cal/OSHA agency spokesman, said both Knott’s and the manufacturer, Intamin AG, were found at fault.

The maintenance instructions for the ride were confusing and unclear whether the cable should be inspected monthly or every six months, according to Fryer.  Knott’s was inspecting the cable every six months instead of every month as the manufacturer intended, said Fryer.

Despite the instructions, Knott’s was 19 days late on the six month cable inspection at the time of the accident, Fryer said.

This accident was the second major accident at Knott’s involving a ride manufactured by Intamin.  A 40-year-old woman in 2001 died after falling from the Perilous Plunge water ride, also built by Intamin.