Six Flags Over Texas theme park in Arlington confirmed that a woman died while riding the Texas Giant roller coaster on Friday. The storms produced strong winds that swept across Texas, from the Panhandle to Houston, causing damage north of the city, weather officials said. The CEO of Six Flags, James Reid-Anderson, said Monday that he expects the company to see "short to medium-term attendance impact at the park," due to safety concerns after Ayala-Gaona's death, but that other parks should fare fine after the safety scare, according to USA Today. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Get your Annual Pass today! The weather service reported a 97 mph (156 kph) wind gust the strongest recorded at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston since data collection began there in 1969. Haze, heat and storms are bringing danger and discomfort to many parts of the US, Dangerous heat and humidity is smothering much of the South and Midwest, Thousands of residents in Oklahoma and Louisiana remain without power following weekend storms, Power outages continue across southern US; triple-digit heat wave grips Texas. John Putman told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram of Esparza'stwo children: 'They were screaming, 'My mom! Nearly 75,000 customers in Oklahoma and Louisiana remained without electricity Thursday as work crews continued to repair power lines damaged by weekend storms. About 8 p.m. Wednesday, a supercell developed near Amarillo before striking the small town of Matador, said senior forecaster Matt Ziebell with the National Weather Service in Lubbock. The 92-page report from Arlington police said employees had noticed trouble with the sensors on the Texas Giant's control panel in the days leading up to the accident. The employee was pronounced dead at the scene; another individual was taken to a hospital to be treated for psychological trauma. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of Ms. Esparza, said Steve Martindale, park president of Six Flags Over Texas in the release. SIX FLAGS and all related indicia are trademarks of Six Flags Theme parks, Inc.TM; 2022. It can carry up to 24 riders. The death of a Texas woman who fell five stories from the top of a Six Flags roller coaster has left ride operators on edge this week amid safety concerns. There is always something exciting going on at Six Flags! July 23, 2013 / 4:07 PM / CBS/AP FORT WORTH, Texas A coroner says the passenger killed while riding a Texas roller coaster was ejected from her seat and Earlier Friday, the theme park released this statement regarding the death: We are deeply saddened to share that earlier this evening an adult woman died in the park while on the Texas Giant. The weather service sent crews to survey the damage in west Texas on Thursday and determine the strength of the tornadoes, but the team had not reported its findings as of early Thursday afternoon, according to meteorologist Robert Barritt in Lubbock. Check out our event listing for our newest events happening at Six Flags Over Texas! The family is being sold what is a titillating thrill that everybody assumes is safe, and it turned into a reality that was just horrific for every member of the family who was there, said Branson. Rosa Ayala-Gaona fell to her death Friday afternoon from the top of the Texas Giant coaster at Six Flags Over Texas, after slipping out of a t-shaped lap bar on the ride. The ride's operating system will not allow the ride operator to release the train from the loading station unless every lap bar is in a locked position, the statement read. ARLINGTON -- Their faces are frozen in time. Get unlimited admission, parking, and more with a 2023 Pass! The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Emergency personnel raced to the scene at Six Flags Over Texas after it was reported a woman had fallen off the giant roller coaster. Weve got you covered. Homes were damaged, buildings were flattened and power lines were snapped in half. Join us for Veterans Day Weekend as we honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country. AS thrill seekers piled onto a 14-story rollercoaster, their excited screams soon turned to terror after witnessing a mom plunge Cool off by taking the plunge on North Americas first water coaster & roller coaster combination. Sale Ending Soon! Once police rule out any criminal activity in the death, no federal or local law enforcement authorities will investigate. Thats led local governments and charities to open cooling stations and deliver donated air conditioners to protect poor and elderly residents. This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. We are deeply saddened about a death this evening on the Texas Giant. Learn more about our park safety protocols and procedures such as new cashless payments. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The deceased woman's family identified her as Rosy Esparza of Dallas, reported the Dallas Morning News. When you buy your Gold Thrill Seeker, Platinum Thrill Seeker or Diamond Thrill Seeker, visit over and over again for the next 12 months. Watch the video here. The lawsuit also said the park failed "to establish and enforce adequate restrictions for body types and weights of riders." Rosy Esparza has been identified as the woman who fell to her death Friday from a rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Texas. Buy a Gold Pass now for $80/ea and get a free upgrade to Platinum. In Harris County, which includes Houston, almost two dozen cooling centers were opened as nearly 90,000 customers remained without power. In addition, we have canceled the concert that was scheduled for today. July 22, 2013— -- The death of a Texas woman who fell 75 feet from a roller coaster has raised questions about lax and inconsistent oversight of theme parks, highlighting the fact that no agency monitors the number of amusement park fatalities in America each year. Neighbors said the woman was the best neighbor you could ask for. ICEE is a federally registered trademark. Let us out, we need to go get her!" As with other rides in the park, guests with unique body shapes or sizes may not fit into the restraint system. ", Some witnesses said Esparzawasn't properly secured when she fell. According to a witness, children were yelling "we have to get my mom" when the roller coaster car pulled up at the end of the ride. June 30, 2023. The park will come alive with folk art, colorful festoons, piatas, papel picado dcor, and more! Earlier Tuesday, attorney Frank Branson filed a lawsuit in Tarrant County on behalf of Esparzas family. Then, staff inspectors are responsible for investigating and reporting all incidents to the state, according to the company. Wednesday was definitely a rare combination of high-end wind shear and storms of extreme instability, Ziebell said. Medical staff and paramedics responded immediately but nothing could be done to revive her. Everybody misses her a lot, Branson told NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit. Riders were hysterical and crying. Say Happy Birthday America with screamin rides, spectacular fireworks, music and of course ice-cold Coca-Cola. The damage was concentrated on a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) stretch with businesses and homes demolished along the west side of Matador, a town where everybody knows everybody, said Brandon Moore, Matadors water superintendent who is also a volunteer firefighter. Six Flags continues to say it didn't. Remember to buy your parking online before you visit. Arlington, TX. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which oversees carnival ride safety, has no jurisdiction over theme park rides and stopped collecting data on fatalities more than five years ago. Safety is our top priority and that section of the park has been temporarily closed. We're still not sure exactly what caused Rosy Esparza's fatal plunge from the Texas The statement also included several facts about the Texas Giant restraint system. Six Flags also addressed that issue. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Hours after the lawsuit was filed, Six Flags announced that when the Giant reopens it will have overlapping safety measures including re-designed restraint-bar pads from the manufacturer and new seat belts. In fact, injuries and deaths on amusement rides at parks such as Six Flags, known as "fixed-place amusement rides," are not subject to inspection or investigation by any federal oversight committee the way traveling carnivals or rides are. Our prayers are with the family and friends. Let us out, we need to go get her!' All rights reserved. Theme parks in California are regulated by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and rides are inspected annually by state inspectors. Its thrills by day and fright by night with haunted houses, scare zones, spine-chilling shows and your favorite rides. Although Rosa Esparza desperately tried to hang on as the roller-coaster car twisted and turned, she was unable to resist the over-powering forces of the roller-coaster ride, the lawsuit stated. The employee was reportedly found underneath the attraction in a restricted area, appearing to have suffered head trauma. The safety of our guests and employees is our companys absolute highest priority and we try to take every reasonable precaution to eliminate the risk of accidents. The woman was trapped in the ride and drowned. In Texas, where Ayala-Goano died, no regulatory agency oversees rides, though the Texas Department of Insurance approves them and ensures they are inspected, according to ABC News affiliate WFAA. "We support efforts that would truly enhance safety," they said. In a news release Tuesday, Six Flags said it completed its investigation into the accident and has ruled out any mechanical failure of the ride. "I was sick to my stomach with anxiety," Leslye Barnes. These changes certainly are a step in the right direction. You can find injury statistics for theme parks at Amusement Safety Organization. It was moments after they report hearing a pop, then seeing Rosy Esparza lift from her seat. Six Flags Over Texas spokeswoman Sharon Parker told the Daily News that the Arlington park was using every resource to determine how Esparza met her death on the Texas Giant, which at 153 feet is considered the world's tallest steel-wood hybrid roller coaster. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. She would have had to been a body builder to be able to hold on to keep herself from coming out of that ride, explained safety analyst and consultant Ken Martin. 2022 J&J Snack Foods Corp. All Rights Reserved. The worst damage appeared to be in Matador a town of about 570 people about 70 miles (112 kilometers) northeast of Lubbock in Motley County. A cooling center was opened in Matador with highs expected near 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). Six Flags announcement comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed earlier Tuesday by Rosa Esparzas family, which alleged the park ignored dangers and is seeking at least $1,000,000 in damages.
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