Woman dies on Six Flags Roller Coaster

[PirateSnowmen]

I live in Dallas & go to Six Flags over Texas quite often and even have a season pass. I'm very saddened by what happened, especially since the Texas Giant is my favorite ride (especially since it was redone a couple years ago).

To correct what was said earlier: the restraints on the Texas Giant don't click. The restraint is pulled down smoothly and there is no clicking at all.

What a horrible story!! The thought that always goes though the back of my mind when riding rollercoasters is "what if the safety straps fail??" Do we know if this ride had a harness that goes over the shoulders or lap belt?

Sent from my Galaxy SII

The only restraint is a lap bar.

I rode the Texas Giant about five years ago. If I remember correctly, it was a lap bar. The one thing I do remember is, it jolted me around so much that my neck and my head were in agony getting off the ride. That was the only time I can remember actually considering ping to the ER. That was easily the worst headache I've ever had.

The ride has been completely redone since then. The restraint is still a lap bar, but there is a new track that is completely different and doesn't jolt you around at all. The old Texas Giant used to give me a huge headache too, but the new one is fantastic and is completely smooth.

 

[TarrahA]

What a horrible story!! The thought that always goes though the back of my mind when riding rollercoasters is "what if the safety straps fail??" Do we know if this ride had a harness that goes over the shoulders or lap belt?

Sent from my Galaxy SII

It does not - I live in Dallas & have ridden this coaster several times this year - it's just the lap restraint. Very sad for all involved. My heart hurts for her family.

I have season passes to six flags - don't think I'll be using them anymore this year after this. Six flags has a history of injuries & deaths due to ride failures, this is the last straw for me. To have such a high risk, I don't understand why coasters such as this & even more dangerous ones like the Titan don't have two restraints in the seats - it just isn't worth the risk to save 10 seconds per launch to check a lap restraint & a belt.

 

[Mel522]

What a horrible story!! The thought that always goes though the back of my mind when riding rollercoasters is "what if the safety straps fail??" Do we know if this ride had a harness that goes over the shoulders or lap belt?

Sent from my Galaxy SII

I found a picture of the ride vehicle. Sorry the image is big.

 

[JakeJenna]

It's so weird to me that they wouldn't have a seat belt and lap bar. I know CP has double safety measures on all coaster, really how much would it really cost to put seat belts in with the lap bar? With that said CP had an accident today as well, they had a boat on shoot the rapids come back down the hill and capsize. Scary stuff.

 

[TarrahA]

Yea I don't know why they don't - several rides at six flags only have one restraint. Given their track record you'd think that'd be a great way to ease the patrons at the least, and keep your liability at a minimum.

I have to say, I know this is in no way a reflection on Disney, but I'm very nervous after hearing about this b/c we just paid off our trip last week & now I'm terrified I won't get on a single ride when we get there I hope this causes a major safety check stir in all amusement parks across the country...

 

[LuLuO]

It's so weird to me that they wouldn't have a seat belt and lap bar. I know CP has double safety measures on all coaster, really how much would it really cost to put seat belts in with the lap bar? With that said CP had an accident today as well, they had a boat on shoot the rapids come back down the hill and capsize. Scary stuff.

You should see some of the coasters at Six Flags St. Louis. Several of them are just as they were 30 years ago. A lap bar that does not fit tightly, especially on skinny kids who are tall enough to ride but probably shouldn't be riding. Scary.

I am so sad for the woman and the family.

 

[ChrisFL]

It can be easy to overreact in these situations, but statisically it's still dozens of times safer riding a rollercoaster than it is driving to and from the park.

I've also been keeping up with developments, and it seems other coasters with the same make and model of ride vehicle have been closed as a percautionary measure.

 

[crazee4mickey]

this is just so horrifying and heartbreakingly tragic!

 

[Ruthiesmama]

Ive been reading our local news outlets and people are saying that the restraint had also come up while they rode the redone Texas giant, of course it's unsubstantiated comments but it is interesting that people are claiming similar things happened to them, with obviously much less tragic results. As a fort worth girl, I grew up going to six flags and often had a season pass, and this accident makes me so so sad, and validates the fears ive had at the park. It seems stuff like this happens far to often at six flags parks nationwide. The last fatality i recall at six flags over texas was on a ride similar to kali river rapids, it was also so tragic. Another thing- one of the newspapers is reporting the deceased son was riding with her, it didn't say how old he was but regardless my heart just breaks for him

 

[fabulousfive]

Horrific. Just horrific.

I don't understand tho...what's this "3 clicks"? Is that a regular thing for big rollercoasters? I don't do the biggies...my speed is BTMRR.

Yes I'm wondering the same thing. I don't do coasters but my kids do. I want to be able to tell them about the three clicks.

 

[SandrA9810]

I went on the old Texas Giant and wound up with a few aches after getting off of it. I've also been on rollercoasters with a simple lap bar like Thunder Mountain but it was a double looping coaster. Never heard of any accidents on it.

Are the restraints individual to each seat or is it shared like a bench seat?

 

[Mrs.Malone]

How horrible. I'll say a prayer for her family, especially her child who was next to her.
When these things happen, it's natural to try to grasp for reasons why "it couldn't happen to me." I can't see any reason why this one couldn't happen to me. It's scary and sad.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

I went on the old Texas Giant and wound up with a few aches after getting off of it. I've also been on rollercoasters with a simple lap bar like Thunder Mountain but it was a double looping coaster. Never heard of any accidents on it.

Are the restraints individual to each seat or is it shared like a bench seat?

The restraints are individual to each seat

 

[fabulousfive]

I remember being in high school when there was a death at Six Flags and it was just days after I had been at ours close to our house. I've never forgotten that & I've never been back. Now I know I will never let my kids go there either. So sad & scary.

 

[Aimeedyan]

To be fair, this Six Flags has been open since the early 60s and has had now just 2 deaths. 2 is too many, of course, but it's not exactly a death trap.

I feel badly for the ride attendants who are already being raked over the coals in social media because of one woman's account which is, apparently, incorrect (regarding the clicks). This ride doesn't click when the bar goes down. Too bad the media didn't check out the accuracy of her statements before printing them. Those attendants were likely kids and until an investigation is done showing their actions were a cause here, I wish people would back off on the blame game. Wishful thinking, right?

Awful, awful tragedy.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

God bless her and her family.


Six flags is very backwoods when compared to other orgs such as disney and universal. This is another sign pointing to a need to have a major overhaul in management and general staff at six flags.

 

[LovinPooh]

Tragic!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

WOW!!!

My dd's friend was almost killed last week on one of those "white water rafting" rides. It flipped over. Not sure where though.

RIP to that poor woman.

 

[kimmyann]

How horrible! I admit that is my biggest fear on a coaster & I check my harness constantly before the ride starts. I admit though that this story doesn't surprise me, Six Flags has a horrible safety record & is one park that I will never visit because of that.

Now, to get ready, DH & I are going to Busch Gardens this morning for a fun day by ourselves.

 

[branv]

The last fatality i recall at six flags over texas was on a ride similar to kali river rapids, it was also so tragic.

Oh god, the Roaring Rapids accident. I totally forgot about that. It was horrific -- of all the rides you'd have thought would be dangerous to go on (Cliffhanger! Or whatever they call it now), that was not it.

This poor woman and her family. I do question the eye witness account verbatim, but as with a lot of eye witness accounts, there could be a kernal of truth in there somewhere. Maybe the woman did say something and it's just coincidence. Maybe she said something because she became really freaked out about the ride, and partway through tried to climb out in a panic. Obviously they'll figure it out, but the news agencies certainly aren't to be trusted just yet.

I can say that while I haven't been back since we moved out of Dallas, in all the years growing up, visiting the park so many times, I remember the ride operators being SO young. As in looked high school age, summer job workers. I know most of this is just automated, but I remember even back then being surprised there weren't at least more adults on the thrill rides. Maybe there were and I didn't see it, but if they had the same age working the Giant this time, I can only imagine what those kids are going through right now.