Six Flags Death: Roller Coaster Accident in Texas Leaves One Woman Dead [VIDEO]
A woman fell to her death Friday while riding a roller coaster at the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park.
The woman, now identified as Rosy Esparza (coroner refers to her as Rosa Ayala-Goana), was with her son at the Arlington, Texas theme park on Jun. 19. According to CBS Local in Dallas, it was the woman's first time visiting the park and her first time riding The Texas Giant, the tallest steel-hybrid roller coaster in the world, another CBS article noted.
Witnesses say Esparza had initially expressed concern over her lap bar, saying she didn't feel it was secure enough. Witness Carmen Brown told ABC News that she heard Esparza say she "only heard one click," but the employee said it was fine "if you heard it click."
The victim sat beside her son during the ride, and it appeared that her restraint either became loose or broken.
"She goes up like this [lifts her arms] and then when it [the roller coaster] drops to come down, that's when it released and she just tumbled," Brown explained to ABC. The report also noted that Texas Giant-riders are supposed to be held safe by a T-shaped lap bar.
"We were the people standing there when the car pulled up and it was empty," John Putnam told CBS.
"My mom, my mom -- we've got to get my mom...she's gone," screamed Esparza's son, several witnesses told the news site.
Park guests who saw the incident were also terrified.
"When it got in the air and started coming down, I don't know if she had a seizure or what, but she fell out of the cart and just fell out of the sky. We're leaving now because my daughter, we both cried and were terrified and I didn't want to ride anything else," Kanisha Howell told CBS.
"It's crazy that I was at Six Flags today and a woman died on the Texas giant while I was there. Who knows when your last day will be," Ethan Perry (@TheEthanPerry) tweeted.
In response to the tragic incident, Six Flags spokesperson sent a statement to CBS Local in Dallas via email.
"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."
Six Flags Over Texas also sent out this tweet today: The accident is under investigation by company/external experts. We cannot speculate on what happened. Our prayers remain with the family.
(Video Courtesy of ABC News)