The death of Texas woman Rosa Ayala-Gaona from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas on Friday, July 19 has raised concern about the oversight of amusement parks, as well as the fact that no agency monitors the number of fatalities at amusement parks in America each year.
Ayala-Gaona, 52, fell to her death after slipping out of a t-shaped lap bar on the ride, after questioning the proper strapping of the ride’s seat.
“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,” Carmen Brown, who was on the ride with Ayala-Gaona, told ABC News.
Six Flags and the maker of the ride, German company Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, are now investigating the death. No law enforcement authorities will investigate after police rule out any criminal activity in the death.
Following Ayal-Gaona’s death, families on summer vacations are taking serious precautions due to the circumstances. But there are still some who are not letting this incident steer them away from their plans.
Take a look at some of the top amusement parks families are buzzing about.
