A fun day at a water park turned tragic for Napa High School students during their senior class trip to Waterworld USA in Concord, California. Hoping to break a school record, students attempted to cram as many people as possible into a water slide. Disregarding lifeguard warnings, a group of students overloaded the slide, causing a section to collapse, resulting in injuries and the death of a graduating senior.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene with students falling from the slide, hitting trees, rocks, and the ground. The catastrophic incident, which occurred on June 2, 1997, claimed the life of Quimby Ghilotti and left 32 others severely injured. Despite the tragedy, the school’s graduation proceeded as planned, with some students in wheelchairs or wearing casts.
Waterworld USA, though not held legally responsible, settled lawsuits amounting to $4 million. Following a closure, the Banzai Pipeline was revamped and reopened. The incident has resurfaced in a recent YouTube documentary, prompting online discussions about lifeguard protocols and safety measures at water parks.