Investigators on Monday returned to a brand new Dublin water park two days after a boy was thrown from the bottom of a three-story slide.
The boy only suffered some scratches after flying from the slide and skidding across the concrete below at The Wave water park, but investigators want to figure out what went wrong with The Emerald Plunge ride in hopes of preventing a similar incident from injuring any future parkgoers.
It is still unclear what caused the boy to eject from the slide, which had been tested several times before Saturday's grand opening and certified by Cal-OSHA the day before, according to city officials.
State investigators on Sunday began gathering information during an intial examination of the ride. Representatives from WhiteWater, the slide's manufacturer, and Cal-OSHA investigators were at the park Monday to further inspect the ride.
"We are thankful the 10-year-old involved in the incident walked away without any serious injury," a statement from WhiteWater read in part. "We are working closely with the team at (The) Wave, and both of their high speed slides have been shut down pending a full investigation from the WhiteWater team."
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Video captured by the Bay Area News Group shows the boy shoot down the open slide, known as "The Emerald Plunge." As he reaches the flat section designed to slow riders down, his body glides across the slide's side wall before skimming across the concrete surface below.
The slide involved and one directly next to the one out of which the boy fell were closed following the incident.
A third slide at the park was also closed Sunday because of a faulty flow meter. That slide is scheduled to be reopened Monday.
The 31,000-square-foot, $43 million facility opened just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. The park features a 48-foot tall tower with a total of six water slides. There is also a smaller splash area for children and multiple swimming pools.
On The Wave's website, The Emerald Plunge ride is described as "a splash you'll never forget."
"This speed slide is an open waterslide that gives you a great view of the Tri-Valley landscape as it sends guests plunging straight down into the splashdown lane below," the ride's description reads.
Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride The Emerald Plunge.
