Cops Won't Run Coaster Death Investigation

Six Flags running own investigation
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 22, 2013 2:37 AM CDT
Updated Jul 22, 2013 6:54 AM CDT
Independent Probe Unlikely in Coaster Death
The Texas Giant roller coaster ride sits idle at the Six Flags Over Texas park Saturday, July 20, 2013, in Arlington, Texas.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Don't expect an independent probe into the death of a woman on Six Flags' Texas Giant roller coaster: The amusement park is conducting its own investigation, the Dallas Morning News reports. Since the death is seen as accidental, police and fire authorities aren't likely to dig deep on the issue. But Six Flags says it's "committed to determining the cause of this tragic accident and will utilize every resource throughout this process." The park, its insurance company, and an inspector hired by one of those firms will seek answers, the Morning News notes.

Still, "quite frankly, Six Flags Over Texas is not required to do anything," a safety inspector tells CBS 11. There is no official Texas body to review accidents, the same inspector tells the Morning News. And "in all likelihood, do you think Six Flags is going to come out and say, 'we screwed up'?" Some outsiders, however, will join in the investigation: Reps for the German makers of the cars on the Texas Giant are on their way to the States. "We have to investigate what has happened there," says a spokesman for Gerstlauer Amusement Rides. "I’m sure there’s no safety bar that is broken." Meanwhile, park guests tell the Morning News about safety concerns, including the appearance of understaffing: "You can actually go places in the park and not even see an employee," says one visitor. (More Six Flags stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X