Woman Falls to Her Death While Riding Roller Coaster at Six Flags Over Texas [UPDATED]
UPDATE (7/23/13 2:56PM): The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office has released the victim's name and details about her death.
A woman has died while riding The Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, outside Dallas, Friday night (July 19). Police records show the incident happened just after 6:30 p.m.
A statement issued by park spokeswoman Sharon Parker says,
We are deeply saddened to share that earlier this evening an adult woman died in the park while on the Texas Giant. Park medical staff and local paramedics responded immediately. Since the safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority, the ride has been closed pending further investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time.
Parker did not specify how the woman died, but witnesses say the restraints came undone, and the woman was ejected out of her seat.
One witness took to Twitter saying, "Literally just witnessed someone fly off of the Texas giant two seats in front of me....restraint came undone, coaster turned and she was gone — joshua paul fleak (@joshfleak) July 19, 2013
The Dallas News reports that another witness overheard the victim telling a park employee that her harness only clicked once when it was lowered into place, unlike the multiple clicks heard when others were strapped in. The same witness also said that the victim’s young son was in the seat in front of his mother.
The area immediately around the ride was shut off and it's unknown when it will reopen.
The Texas Giant first opened as an all-wooden ride in 1990, and was recently updated with a state-of-the-art steel track in April of 2011. The 14-story high coaster seats up to 24 people, has a drop of 79 degrees - the steepest of any wooden coaster in the world - and according to the Six Flags Over Texas website, "has a record-breaking bank of 95 degrees, steeper than any other wooden coaster on the planet."