Six Flags Texas Giant Roller Coaster Death: Safety Bar Wasn’t Set Properly, Witness Says [Video]
A woman died last night around 6:45 at the Six Flags amusement park in Arlington, Texas, when she fell to her death out of the Texas Giant roller coaster. In the aftermath of the tragedy, eyewitnesses are coming forward with statements about what they saw.
There’s a video report on the accident up top that includes panoramic views of the Texas Giant — the world’s largest steel-hybrid roller coaster. Another video posted down below features a frank statement from an eyewitness.
Hard information has been scanty. Even the victim’s name hasn’t been released, although it’s widely rumored on Twitter that dead woman was riding the Six Flags Texas Giant roller coaster with her son.
My Fox DFW said that the investigation into what went wrong will resume today.
But eyewitnesses think they might already know what happened on the 14-story tall ride. There has been widespread speculation that the restraint bar wasn’t secure.
Casey Crow, a visitor in line for the ride, said: “[P]ossibly a restraint might have come up and somebody had fallen out around the turn. I know these guys check everything all the time so I just wouldn’t figure something like that would have happened.”
Carmen Brown, another visitor and witness, has said outright that the woman was worried that she wasn’t properly secured. She told The Dallas Morning News that the victim’s worries were brushed off by the ride attendant:
“He was basically nonchalant…He was, like, ‘As long as you heard it click, you’re fine.’ Hers was the only one that went down once, and she didn’t feel safe…
“The lady basically tumbled over. We heard her screaming. We were, like, ‘Did she just fall?'”
Safety is our top priority and that section of the park has been temporarily closed.
— Six Flags Over Texas (@SixFlagsOverTX) July 20, 2013
We are deeply saddened about a death this evening on the Texas Giant. Our prayers are with the family and friends.
— Six Flags Over Texas (@SixFlagsOverTX) July 20, 2013
Here’s that eyewitness statement on video:
The Six Flags Texas Giant roller coaster is closed while the death is under investigation.
[Six Flags Texas Giant roller coaster still photo by David R. Tribble via Wikimedia]
